Osteochondrosis can occur in any segment of the spine, i.e. in the cervical spine, thoracic spine and lumbar spine. This is in most cases a creeping process that involves back pain which initially only occurs during exertion. This degeneration increases significantly with age. Back pain is very common in adults. To a certain extent, signs of degeneration in the spine are normal signs of ageing. For example, marginal serrations associated with spondylolysis in 90 % of men over 50. Only a certain number of these cases are also clinically relevant, i.e. associated with pain for the patient. A disease occurs when massive changes result in severe problems unusually early on. This tendency is possibly promoted by the civilised lifestyle. It results in degeneration in the vertebral joints, causes wear and tear to the cartilage on the joints and leads to arthritis. The result is stiffening of the joint and the formation of marginal ridges. The end stage of osteochondrosis ultimately results in the complete stiffening of the mobile segments affected.