Easley Chiropractic Treatment of Back Pain and Related Fatty Infiltration of Paraspinal Muscles
Undoubtedly, our Easley 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. Young Chiropractic addresses all of them, too, to reduce back pain, improve the spine, and improve 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 activated by lifestyle issues such as poor nutrition or lack of exercise. This condition does not always trigger symptoms, but if it does, they can involve low back pain and associated stiffness in the lower back and legs or troubled walking because of 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 that. (1) Young Chiropractic 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 concluded that disc degeneration and paraspinal muscle weakness were strongly correlated, facet joint degeneration and paraspinal muscle weakness were weakly associated, and facet joint degeneration and disc degeneration were strongly associated. The researchers stated that the level of paraspinal muscle weakness increased with amount of lumbar disc degeneration and facet joint degeneration while fatty infiltration of the multifidus paraspinal muscle was susceptible 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) influenced 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 indicates future back pain)? (3) Young Chiropractic keeps on top of what the research reports and urges our back pain patients to bolster the muscles that they can so that they can maintain the spine in healing and preventing future bouts of pain as best as possible.
CHIROPRACTIC CARE OF BACK PAIN AND MUSCLE WEAKNESS
Young Chiropractic realizes that low back pain patients don’t just experience pain; they also get to experience muscle quality loss due to increased 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 important in addition to 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, Young Chiropractic is here to help! While researchers are still analyzing whether fatty infiltration is reversible, Young Chiropractic sees the attempt to tone and improve strength a worthwhile effort.
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Kurt Olding on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes the many options open to back pain sufferers regarding healthcare providers and emphasizes the benefit of being under the care of a chiropractor trained in the protocols of The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
CONTACT Young Chiropractic
Schedule your Easley chiropractic visit to address your back pain and weakened paraspinal muscles. Relief and an improved quality of life are ahead for you!
