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

No doubt, our Minster chronic back pain sufferers have read about associated paraspinal (multifidus, psoas, quadratus lumborum, erector spinae) muscle fatty infiltrate. These are all linked together: fatty muscle infiltration, disc degeneration, spinal stenosis, facet joint degeneration, back pain. Minster Chiropractic Center addresses all of them, too, to reduce 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 located 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 provoke 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) Minster Chiropractic Center tests for these issues thoroughly during the chiropractic exam with an appreciation for 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 associated, and facet joint degeneration and disc degeneration were strongly associated. It noted that the extent of paraspinal muscle weakness rose with amount of lumbar disc degeneration and facet joint degeneration while fatty infiltration of the multifidus paraspinal muscle was vulnerable 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 points to future back pain)? (3) Minster Chiropractic Center keeps abreast of published research and urges our back pain patients to bolster the muscles that they can so that they can support the spine in healing and preventing more bouts of pain as best as possible.

CHIROPRACTIC CARE OF BACK PAIN AND MUSCLE WEAKNESS

Minster Chiropractic Center knows that low back pain patients don’t just have 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’s the reason that rehabilitation is so crucial alongside 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, Minster Chiropractic Center is here to help! While researchers are still studying whether fatty infiltration is reversible, Minster Chiropractic Center finds 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 available to back pain sufferers regarding 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 Minster Chiropractic Center

Make your Minster chiropractic visit to address your back pain and weakened paraspinal muscles. Relief and an improved 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."