Undoubtedly, our Orchard Park, NY chronic
back pain sufferers have heard about related
paraspinal (multifidus, psoas, quadratus lumborum, erector spinae) muscle fatty
infiltrate. They are all linked together: fatty
muscle infiltration, disc degeneration, spinal stenosis, facet joint
degeneration, back pain. Novelli Wellness Center addresses all of them, too, to reduce
back pain, strengthen the spine, and improve your
quality of life.
WHAT IS PARASPINAL MUSCLE FATTY INFILTRATE?
Paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate is an
accumulation of fat within the tissue of the muscles found
near the spine, the paraspinal muscles. This condition may be triggered
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 provoke
symptoms, but if it does, they can include low back pain and associated
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,
well-functioning paraspinal muscles assist spinal stability. With
back pain comes fatty infiltration of the paraspinal muscles that interfere
with that. (1) Novelli Wellness Center tests for these issues carefully
during the chiropractic examination with an appreciation for the possible connection.
THE BACK PAIN AND WEAK PARASPINAL MUSCLE CONNECTION
A newer study summarized that disc
degeneration and paraspinal muscle weakness were strongly correlated,
facet joint degeneration and paraspinal muscle weakness were weakly correlated,
and facet joint degeneration and disc degeneration were strongly associated.
It stated that the level
of paraspinal muscle weakness intensified with level
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) influenced
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)
Novelli Wellness Center keeps abreast of published research and encourages our back pain patients to bolster
the muscles that they can so that they can support the spine in
healing and preventing future episodes of pain as best
as possible.
CHIROPRACTIC CARE OF BACK PAIN AND MUSCLE WEAKNESS
Novelli Wellness Center knows that low back pain
patients do not just suffer 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 exercise
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, Novelli Wellness Center is here to help! While researchers are
still analyzing whether fatty infiltration is reversible,
Novelli Wellness Center sees the effort 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 details 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 Novelli Wellness Center
Schedule your Orchard Park, NY chiropractic visit
to address your back pain and weakened paraspinal muscles. Relief and an improved
quality of life are in your future!