If you have chronic back pain, like
many other Colorado Springs back pain sufferers, chances
are you’ve heard of paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate. This spinal
issue can cause a great deal of discomfort and can even
result in gait disturbances. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate and how it
is associated with lumbar spinal stenosis and its treatment
with spinal manipulation offered at The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR.
WHAT IS PARASPINAL MUSCLE FATTY INFILTRATE?
Paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate is a build-up of fat within the tissues of the muscles located
near the spine. Genetics or aging are often culprits of this condition,
but it can
also be activated by lifestyle factors such as poor nutrition or lack of exercise. It is
important to note that paraspinal fatty muscle infiltrate
does not always produce symptoms, but if it does, they can involve
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 explained how
the extent to which the gluteus medius is atrophied (weakened)
impacted lumbar spinal stenosis symptomatology. (1) A
leading spinal condition
affecting more than 500 million people over 65 years old,
lumbar spinal stenosis, is related to altered
gait as gait depends on strong muscle activity. (2)
Colorado Springs chiropractic patients know The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR 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 results
in lower back pain and even pain down the legs by exerting
pressure on spinal nerves – and resultant
Colorado Springs back pain. Intervertebral disc degeneration and
fatty-infiltrated paraspinal muscles – multifidus, erector spinae, etc. – are linked
and found to cause chronic low back pain and its
issues: the more fat, the more degeneration.
(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) The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR offers alleviating
chiropractic treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis and its back pain.
LUMBAR SPINAL STENOSIS & SPINAL MANIPULATION
There are various treatment options for spinal stenosis influenced by the
severity and the healthcare practitioner who was seen from nutrition,
surgery, exercise, drugs, and/or
spinal manipulation and mobilization. A study reported
that one session of spinal manipulation was
documented to significantly decrease spinal
stiffness and increased the multifidus muscle thickness ratio which
lasted for more than 7 days for spinal manipulation
responders. (5) Your Colorado Springs 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 The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR
Paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate is a common condition
that can cause a range of issues involving low
back pain, stiffness in the lower body, and gait disturbances. It is sometimes
associated with lumbar spinal stenosis. If you are experiencing any
symptoms associated with paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate or
lumbar spinal stenosis, it's important to speak with
your Colorado Springs chiropractor at The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR about your treatment
options so you can find relief as fast as possible.
Schedule your appointment today!