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!