No doubt, our Vancouver chronic
back pain sufferers have read about related
paraspinal (multifidus, psoas, quadratus lumborum, erector spinae) muscle fatty
infiltrate. They are all tied together: fatty
muscle infiltration, disc degeneration, spinal stenosis, facet joint
degeneration, back pain. Vancouver Disc Centers 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 triggered
by aging or genetics while it can also be triggered
by lifestyle issues such as poor nutrition or lack of exercise. This condition does not always trigger
symptoms, but if it does, they can include 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-recognized
culprit of chronic back pain, disc inflammation, and even spinal stability. Strong,
effective paraspinal muscles assist spinal stability. With
back pain comes fatty infiltration of the paraspinal muscles that interfere
with stability. (1) Vancouver Disc Centers tests for these issues thoroughly
during the chiropractic examination with an understanding
of this the potential connection.
THE BACK PAIN AND WEAK PARASPINAL MUSCLE CONNECTION
A newer study summarized that disc
degeneration and paraspinal muscle weakness were strongly associated,
facet joint degeneration and paraspinal muscle weakness were weakly correlated,
and facet joint degeneration and disc degeneration were strongly associated.
The researchers noted 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 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 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)
Vancouver Disc Centers keeps abreast of published research and urges our back pain patients to improve
the muscles that they can so that they can support the spine in
healing and preventing more episodes of pain as best
as possible.
CHIROPRACTIC CARE OF BACK PAIN AND MUSCLE WEAKNESS
Vancouver Disc Centers realizes that low back pain
patients do not just suffer pain; they also
get to endure muscle quality loss due to more
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 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, Vancouver Disc Centers is here to help! While researchers are
still analyzing whether fatty infiltration is reversible,
Vancouver Disc Centers sees the attempt to tone and strengthen 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 when it comes
to healthcare providers and emphasizes the benefit of seeking a chiropractor trained in the protocols of The
Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
CONTACT Vancouver Disc Centers
Schedule your Vancouver chiropractic visit
to address your back pain and weakened paraspinal muscles. Relief and an improved
quality of life are in your future!