No doubt, our West Des Moines chronic
back pain sufferers have heard about associated
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. Executive Chiropractic of Iowa 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 prompted
by lifestyle issues like poor nutrition or little
to no exercise. This condition does not always produce
symptoms, but if it does, they can include low back pain and related
stiffness in the lower back and legs or troubled walking because
of 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) Executive Chiropractic of Iowa tests for these issues carefully
during the chiropractic examination with an understanding
of this the potential connection.
THE BACK PAIN AND WEAK PARASPINAL MUSCLE CONNECTION
A recent study concluded 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 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) influenced
each other was somewhat contradictory – which comes first
(pain or fatty infiltrate), can fatty infiltrate be fixed, is
one predictive of the other (back pain that there is fatty infiltrate or fatty
infiltrate that indicates imminent back pain)? (3)
Executive Chiropractic of Iowa keeps on top of published research and urges our back pain patients to improve
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
Executive Chiropractic of Iowa realizes that low back pain
patients don’t just have pain; they also
get to deal with muscle quality loss due to increased
fatty infiltration of the paraspinal muscles. Just
how much loss is highly correlated with the severity of the back pain and
related dysfunction. (4) That is the reason that rehabilitation
is so crucial 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, Executive Chiropractic of Iowa is here to help! While researchers are
still studying whether fatty infiltration is reversible,
Executive Chiropractic of Iowa sees the effort to tone and improve
strength a worthwhile effort.
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Kurt Olding on
The Back Doctors Podcast
with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes the multitude of
options available to back pain sufferers when it comes
to healthcare providers and highlights the benefit of seeking a chiropractor trained in the protocols of The
Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
CONTACT Executive Chiropractic of Iowa
Make your West Des Moines chiropractic visit
to address your back pain and weakened paraspinal muscles. Relief and an improved
quality of life are in your future!