No doubt, our Minster chronic
back pain sufferers have read about associated
paraspinal (multifidus, psoas, quadratus lumborum, erector spinae) muscle fatty
infiltrate. These are all linked together: fatty
muscle infiltration, disc degeneration, spinal stenosis, facet joint
degeneration, back pain. Minster Chiropractic Center addresses all of them, too, to reduce
back pain, strengthen the spine, and enhance your
quality of life.
WHAT IS PARASPINAL MUSCLE FATTY INFILTRATE?
Paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate is the growth of fat within the tissue of the muscles located
near the spine, the paraspinal muscles. This condition may be caused
by aging or genetics although it can also be triggered
by lifestyle issues such as poor nutrition or lack of exercise. This condition does not always provoke
symptoms, but if it does, they can involve low back pain and related
stiffness in the lower back and legs or troubled walking due to gait disturbances. Intervertebral disc degeneration is a well-known
culprit of chronic back pain, disc inflammation, and even spinal stability. Strong,
well-functioning paraspinal muscles assist spinal stability. With
back pain comes fatty infiltration of the paraspinal muscles that interfere
with stability. (1) Minster Chiropractic Center tests for these issues thoroughly
during the chiropractic exam with an appreciation for the potential connection.
THE BACK PAIN AND WEAK PARASPINAL MUSCLE CONNECTION
A newer study summarized that disc
degeneration and paraspinal muscle weakness were strongly associated,
facet joint degeneration and paraspinal muscle weakness were weakly associated,
and facet joint degeneration and disc degeneration were strongly associated.
It noted that the extent
of paraspinal muscle weakness rose with amount of lumbar disc degeneration and facet joint degeneration while fatty
infiltration of the multifidus paraspinal muscle was vulnerable
to weight. (2) Further, the published literature on the degree to
which low back pain and fatty infiltration of multifidus and other paraspinal
muscles (erector spinae, psoas, quadratus lumborum) impacted
each other was somewhat conflicting – which comes first
(pain or fatty infiltrate), can fatty infiltrate be reversed, is
one predictive of the other (back pain that there is fatty infiltrate or fatty
infiltrate that points to future back pain)? (3)
Minster Chiropractic Center keeps abreast of published research and urges our back pain patients to bolster
the muscles that they can so that they can support the spine in
healing and preventing more bouts of pain as best
as possible.
CHIROPRACTIC CARE OF BACK PAIN AND MUSCLE WEAKNESS
Minster Chiropractic Center knows that low back pain
patients don’t just have pain; they also
get to endure muscle quality loss due to more
fatty infiltration of the paraspinal muscles. The extent of muscle loss is highly correlated with the severity of the back pain and
related dysfunction. (4) That’s the reason that rehabilitation
is so crucial alongside treatment of back pain
for pain relief and prevention. Implementing The Cox Technic System
of Spinal Pain Management as well as other chiropractic services,
nutrition and exercise, Minster Chiropractic Center is here to help! While researchers are
still studying whether fatty infiltration is reversible,
Minster Chiropractic Center finds the attempt to tone and improve
strength a worthy effort.
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Kurt Olding on
The Back Doctors Podcast
with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes the many
options available to back pain sufferers regarding healthcare providers and highlights the benefit of being
under the care of a chiropractor trained in the protocols of The
Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
CONTACT Minster Chiropractic Center
Make your Minster chiropractic visit
to address your back pain and weakened paraspinal muscles. Relief and an improved
quality of life are in your future!