If you suffer from chronic back pain, like
many other Richmond back pain patients, odds
are you’ve heard of paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate. This spinal
issue can cause a great deal of discomfort and can even
result in gait disturbances. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate and how it
is related to lumbar spinal stenosis and its treatment
with spinal manipulation available at Johnson Chiropractic.
WHAT IS PARASPINAL MUSCLE FATTY INFILTRATE?
Paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate is an
accumulation of fat within the tissues of the muscles around the spine. Genetics or aging are often culprits of this condition,
but it can
also be triggered by lifestyle factors like poor nutrition or lack of exercise. It is
important to note that paraspinal fatty muscle infiltrate
does not always produce symptoms, but if it does, they can include
low back pain, stiffness in the lower back and legs, or difficulty walking due
to gait disturbances since gait relies on hip muscles
like the gluteus medius. A new report described how
the extent to which the gluteus medius is atrophied (degenerated)
impacted lumbar spinal stenosis symptomatology. (1) One of the most common spinal conditions
affecting more than 500 million people over 65 years old,
lumbar spinal stenosis, is linked to distorted
gait as gait relies on strong muscle activity. (2)
Richmond chiropractic patients know Johnson Chiropractic checks for gait issues during our chiropractic exam.
PARASPINAL FATTY INFILTRATE AND LUMBAR SPINAL STENOSIS
Paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate can be associated
with lumbar spinal stenosis—a narrowing of the spinal canal that results
in lower back pain and even pain down the legs by exerting
pressure on spinal nerves – and resulting
Richmond back pain. Intervertebral disc degeneration and
fatty-infiltrated paraspinal muscles – multifidus, erector spinae, etc. – are linked
and known to contribute to chronic low back pain and its
issues: the more fat, the more degeneration.
(3) Other researchers concured that fat infiltration of the
paraspinal muscles like the multifidus muscle may be linked to lower back pain when it was not associated with other
factors like a person with back pain who was male, older or has a higher BMI
older, male, or having a higher BMI]78]. (4) Johnson Chiropractic offers relieving
chiropractic treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis and its back pain.
LUMBAR SPINAL STENOSIS & SPINAL MANIPULATION
Treatment
options for lumbar spinal stenosis vary depending on
severity and the healthcare practitioner consulted from nutrition,
surgery, exercise, drugs, and/or
spinal manipulation and mobilization. One study reported
that one session of spinal manipulation significantly reduced spinal
stiffness and enhanced the multifidus muscle thickness ratio which
lasted for more than 7 days in spinal manipulation
responders. (5) Your Richmond chiropractor uses such care for back pain relief, particularly the
well-researched chiropractic Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management. Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. James Cox on The Back Doctors Podcast with
Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes how The
Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management addresses back pain and
affiliated muscles.
CONTACT Johnson Chiropractic
Paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate is a common condition
that can trigger a range of issues including low
back pain, stiffness in the lower body, and gait disturbances. It is sometimes
associated with lumbar spinal stenosis. If you have any
symptoms related to paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate or
lumbar spinal stenosis, it's important to speak with
your Richmond chiropractor at Johnson Chiropractic about your treatment
options so you can find relief as quickly as possible.
Make your appointment today!