Auburn Chiropractic Treatment of Back Pain and Related Fatty Infiltration of Paraspinal Muscles
Undoubtedly, our Auburn chronic back pain sufferers have read about associated 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. Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. 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 found near the spine, the paraspinal muscles. This condition may be caused by aging or genetics although it can also be activated by lifestyle factors such as poor nutrition or little to no exercise. This condition doesn’t always trigger symptoms, but if it does, they can involve low back pain and related stiffness in the lower back and legs or difficulty walking because of gait disturbances. Intervertebral disc degeneration is a well-recognized 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) Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. 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 recent 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. The authors stated that the extent of paraspinal muscle weakness intensified 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) 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 indicates imminent back pain)? (3) Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. keeps on top of published research and encourages our back pain patients to bolster 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
Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. realizes that low back pain patients do not just have pain; they also get to experience 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 rehabilitation is so important alongside treatment of back pain for pain relief and prevention. Using The Cox Technic System of Spinal Pain Management in addition to other chiropractic services, nutrition and exercise, Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. is here to help! While researchers are still studying whether fatty infiltration is reversible, Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. finds 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 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 Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C.
Make your Auburn chiropractic visit to address your back pain and weakened paraspinal muscles. Relief and an improved quality of life are in your future!
