If you have chronic back pain, like
many other McHenry back pain patients, chances
are you have heard of paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate. This spinal
condition 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 related to lumbar spinal stenosis and its treatment
with spinal manipulation offered at OrthoIllinois Chiropractic.
WHAT IS PARASPINAL MUSCLE FATTY INFILTRATE?
Paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate is a build-up of fat within the muscle tissues located
near the spine. This condition is often caused by aging or genetics, although it can
also be activated by lifestyle factors like eating
poorly or not exercising. It is
important to note that this condition
does not always cause 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 explained how
the extent to which the gluteus medius is atrophied (weakened)
impacted lumbar spinal stenosis symptomatology. (1) A
leading spinal issue
affecting more than 500 million people over 65 years old,
lumbar spinal stenosis, is related to altered
gait as gait depends on robust muscle activity. (2)
McHenry chiropractic patients know OrthoIllinois Chiropractic checks for gait issues during our chiropractic exam.
PARASPINAL FATTY INFILTRATE AND LUMBAR SPINAL STENOSIS
Paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate can be related to lumbar spinal stenosis—a narrowing of the spinal canal that exerts pressure on nerve roots and causes
pain and other symptoms in the lower back and legs – and resulting
McHenry back pain. Intervertebral disc degeneration and
fatty-infiltrated paraspinal muscles – multifidus, erector spinae, etc. – are related
and known to cause 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 being
older, male, or having a higher BMI]78]. (4) OrthoIllinois Chiropractic offers alleviating
chiropractic treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis and its back pain.
LUMBAR SPINAL STENOSIS & SPINAL MANIPULATION
Treatment
options for lumbar spinal stenosis vary influenced by the
severity and the healthcare practitioner who was seen from drugs and surgery to exercise, nutrition, and/or
spinal manipulation and mobilization. A study described
that one session of spinal manipulation significantly decreased spinal
stiffness and increased the multifidus muscle thickness ratio which
lasted for more than 7 days in spinal manipulation
responders. (5) Your McHenry 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 describes how The
Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management addresses back pain and
affiliated muscles.
CONTACT OrthoIllinois Chiropractic
Paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate is a common condition
that can trigger 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 have any
symptoms associated with paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate or
lumbar spinal stenosis, it's important to speak with
your McHenry chiropractor at OrthoIllinois Chiropractic about your treatment
options so you can find relief as fast as possible.
Make your appointment today!