Undoubtedly, our Groton chronic
back pain sufferers have heard about associated
paraspinal (multifidus, psoas, quadratus lumborum, erector spinae) muscle fatty
infiltrate. They are all linked together: fatty
muscle infiltration, disc degeneration, spinal stenosis, facet joint
degeneration, back pain. Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office addresses all of them, too, to lessen
back pain, strengthen the spine, and enhance your
quality of life.
WHAT IS PARASPINAL MUSCLE FATTY INFILTRATE?
Paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate is an
accumulation of fat within the tissue of the muscles located
near the spine, the paraspinal muscles. This condition may be triggered
by aging or genetics although it can also be triggered
by lifestyle factors such as poor nutrition or lack of exercise. This condition does not always cause
symptoms, but if it does, they can include low back pain and related
stiffness in the lower back and legs or difficulty 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 stability. (1) Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office tests for these issues carefully
during the chiropractic exam with an appreciation for the possible connection.
THE BACK PAIN AND WEAK PARASPINAL MUSCLE CONNECTION
A newer study summarized 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 authors stated that the amount
of paraspinal muscle weakness intensified with level
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 extent to
which low back pain and fatty infiltration of multifidus and other paraspinal
muscles (erector spinae, psoas, quadratus lumborum) influenced
each other was somewhat contradictory – 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)
Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office keeps on top of published research and encourages our back pain patients to strengthen
the muscles that they can so that they can support the spine in
healing and preventing future bouts of pain as best
as possible.
CHIROPRACTIC CARE OF BACK PAIN AND MUSCLE WEAKNESS
Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office realizes that low back pain
patients do not just experience pain; they also
get to endure muscle quality loss due to increased
fatty infiltration of the paraspinal muscles. Just
how much loss is highly correlated with the severity of the back pain and
related dysfunction. (4) That is the reason that rehabilitation
is so important alongside treatment of back pain
for pain relief and prevention. Implementing The Cox Technic System
of Spinal Pain Management in addition to other chiropractic services,
nutrition and exercise, Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office is here to help! While researchers are
still analyzing whether fatty infiltration is reversible,
Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office 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 multitude of
options open to back pain sufferers when it comes
to 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 Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office
Make your Groton chiropractic visit
to address your back pain and weakened paraspinal muscles. Relief and an enhanced
quality of life are ahead for you!