No doubt, our Toronto chronic
back pain sufferers have heard about associated
paraspinal (multifidus, psoas, quadratus lumborum, erector spinae) muscle fatty
infiltrate. They’re all linked together: fatty
muscle infiltration, disc degeneration, spinal stenosis, facet joint
degeneration, back pain. Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre 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 the growth of fat within the tissue of the muscles found
near the spine, the paraspinal muscles. This condition may be caused
by aging or genetics although it can also be triggered
by lifestyle issues such as 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-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) Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre tests for these issues carefully
during the chiropractic exam with an appreciation for the potential connection.
THE BACK PAIN AND WEAK PARASPINAL MUSCLE CONNECTION
A newer 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.
The authors stated that the level
of paraspinal muscle weakness increased 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)
Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre keeps abreast of what the
research reports and urges our back pain patients to improve
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
Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre realizes 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’s 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, Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre is here to help! While researchers are
still studying whether fatty infiltration is changeable,
Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre sees the attempt 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 describes the many
options open to back pain sufferers when it comes
to healthcare providers and highlights the benefit of being
under the care of a chiropractor trained in the protocols of The
Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
CONTACT Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre
Make your Toronto chiropractic visit
to address your back pain and weakened paraspinal muscles. Relief and an enhanced
quality of life are in your future!