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Richmond Chiropractic Treatment of Back Pain and Related Fatty Infiltration of Paraspinal Muscles

Undoubtedly, our Richmond chronic back pain sufferers have heard about related paraspinal (multifidus, psoas, quadratus lumborum, erector spinae) muscle fatty infiltrate. They’re all tied together: fatty muscle infiltration, disc degeneration, spinal stenosis, facet joint degeneration, back pain. Johnson Chiropractic addresses all of them, too, to reduce back pain, improve 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 activated by lifestyle factors like poor nutrition or lack of exercise. This condition does not always produce 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) Johnson Chiropractic tests for these issues carefully during the chiropractic exam with an understanding of this the possible connection.

THE BACK PAIN AND WEAK PARASPINAL MUSCLE CONNECTION

A recent 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 correlated. It stated that the level of paraspinal muscle weakness rose 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) impacted each other was somewhat contradictory – which comes first (pain or fatty infiltrate), can fatty infiltrate be fixed, is one predictive of the other (back pain that there is fatty infiltrate or fatty infiltrate that points to future back pain)? (3) Johnson Chiropractic keeps on top of published research and urges our back pain patients to strengthen the muscles that they can so that they can maintain the spine in healing and preventing future episodes of pain as best as possible.

CHIROPRACTIC CARE OF BACK PAIN AND MUSCLE WEAKNESS

Johnson Chiropractic knows that low back pain patients don’t just have pain; they also get to endure 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 is the reason that exercise is so important alongside treatment of back pain for pain relief and prevention. Using The Cox Technic System of Spinal Pain Management as well as other chiropractic services, nutrition and exercise, Johnson Chiropractic is here to help! While researchers are still analyzing whether fatty infiltration is changeable, Johnson Chiropractic sees the effort 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 details 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 Johnson Chiropractic

Schedule your Richmond chiropractic visit to address your back pain and weakened paraspinal muscles. Relief and a better quality of life are in your future!

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"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by Dr. James M. Cox I."