The solution is to restore supple elasticity and eliminate the overstressing of these joints. Ideally this should be done before structural damage occurs. The restoration of supple elasticity will allow healing processes to do their work unhampered by continual overstressing. If supple elasticity is not restored, the overstressing continues and the prognosis is grim.

The problem may be exacerbated by a modern inactive lifestyle. However, while exercise may slow or even halt the loss, exercise does not reverse the process. During exercise, the mobile joints tend to be exercised while the fixed joints stubbornly remain fixed. In practice, exercises designed to mobilise the spine tend to exacerbate the patient's complaint.

Chronic back pain sufferers have typically attended various clinics over several years, only for their condition to deteriorate. Dependence on pain killers and anti-inflammatory medicines increases. Surgery will be the only offered alternative. Following surgery, there is every pssibility of a recurrence of similar problems as the overstressing moves to another joint.

Clearly, not everyone who suffers a twinge is destined to suffer this fate. While, in all cases loss of supple elasticity will result in the overstressing of particular joints, the consequences will be influenced by the degree of loss, the duration of the loss and the mechanical details.