If you suffer from chronic back pain, like
many other Williamson back pain patients, chances
are you have heard of paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate. This spinal
issue can cause a lot of discomfort and can even
result in gait disturbances. In this blog post, we'll look more
closely at paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate and how it
is associated with lumbar spinal stenosis and its treatment
with spinal manipulation available at Apple Country Chiropractic.
WHAT IS PARASPINAL MUSCLE FATTY INFILTRATE?
Paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate is an
accumulation of fat within the tissues of the muscles located
near the spine. This condition is often caused by aging or genetics, although it can
also be activated by lifestyle factors such as poor nutrition or lack of exercise. It is
important to note that this condition
does not always produce symptoms, but if it does, they can include
low back pain, stiffness in the lower back and legs, or difficulty walking due
to gait disturbances since gait relies on hip muscles
like the gluteus medius. A recent report described how
the extent to which the gluteus medius is atrophied (weakened)
influenced lumbar spinal stenosis symptomatology. (1) One of the most common spinal problems
affecting more than 500 million people over 65 years old,
lumbar spinal stenosis, is linked to distorted
gait as gait relies on robust muscle activity. (2)
Williamson chiropractic patients know Apple Country Chiropractic checks for gait issues during our chiropractic exam.
PARASPINAL FATTY INFILTRATE AND LUMBAR SPINAL STENOSIS
Paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate can be associated
with lumbar spinal stenosis—a narrowing of the spinal canal that puts pressure on nerve roots and causes
pain and other symptoms in the lower back and legs – and resultant
Williamson back pain. Intervertebral disc degeneration and
fatty-infiltrated paraspinal muscles – multifidus, erector spinae, etc. – are related
and known to contribute to chronic low back pain and related
issues: the fattier, the more degenerated.
(3) Other researchers concured that fat infiltration of the
paraspinal muscles like the multifidus muscle may be associated
with lower back pain when it was not linked to other
factors like a person with back pain who was male, older or has a higher BMI
older, male, or having a higher BMI]78]. (4) Apple Country Chiropractic offers relieving
chiropractic treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis and its back pain.
LUMBAR SPINAL STENOSIS & SPINAL MANIPULATION
Treatment
options for lumbar spinal stenosis vary depending on
severity and the healthcare practitioner consulted from nutrition,
surgery, exercise, drugs, and/or
spinal manipulation and mobilization. A study reported
that one session of spinal manipulation was
found to significantly decrease spinal
stiffness and increased the multifidus muscle thickness ratio which
maintained for more than 7 days in spinal manipulation
responders. (5) Your Williamson chiropractor uses the
latter for back pain relief, especially the
well-researched chiropractic Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management. Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. James Cox on The Back Doctors Podcast with
Dr. Michael Johnson as he details how The
Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management addresses back pain and
affiliated muscles.
CONTACT Apple Country Chiropractic
Paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate is a common condition
that can cause a range of issues including low
back pain, stiffness in the lower body, and gait disturbances. It is sometimes
associated with lumbar spinal stenosis. If you have any
symptoms associated with paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate or
lumbar spinal stenosis, it's important to speak with
your Williamson chiropractor at Apple Country Chiropractic about your treatment
options so you can find relief as quickly as possible.
Schedule your appointment today!