Undoubtedly, our Montreal chronic
back pain sufferers have heard about related
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. Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic addresses all of them, too, to lessen
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 caused
by aging or genetics although it can also be triggered
by lifestyle factors such as poor nutrition or lack of exercise. This condition doesn’t always trigger
symptoms, but if it does, they can involve 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-recognized
culprit of chronic back pain, disc inflammation, and even spinal stability. Strong,
effective paraspinal muscles assist spinal stability. With
back pain comes fatty infiltration of the paraspinal muscles that interfere
with stability. (1) Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic tests for these issues thoroughly
during the chiropractic exam with an appreciation for the potential connection.
THE BACK PAIN AND WEAK PARASPINAL MUSCLE CONNECTION
A newer study concluded that disc
degeneration and paraspinal muscle weakness were strongly correlated,
facet joint degeneration and paraspinal muscle weakness were weakly associated,
and facet joint degeneration and disc degeneration were strongly associated.
It stated that the extent
of paraspinal muscle weakness intensified with amount 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 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)
Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic keeps on top of what the
research reports and urges our back pain patients to improve
the muscles that they can so that they can support the spine in
healing and preventing more episodes of pain as best
as possible.
CHIROPRACTIC CARE OF BACK PAIN AND MUSCLE WEAKNESS
Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic knows that low back pain
patients don’t just suffer pain; they also
get to deal with muscle quality loss due to more
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’s the reason that rehabilitation
is so important alongside treatment of back pain
for pain relief and prevention. Implementing The Cox Technic System
of Spinal Pain Management as well as other chiropractic services,
nutrition and exercise, Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic is here to help! While researchers are
still analyzing whether fatty infiltration is reversible,
Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic sees the effort to tone and strengthen a worthy effort.
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Kurt Olding on
The Back Doctors Podcast
with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes the many
options available 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 Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic
Schedule your Montreal chiropractic visit
to address your back pain and weakened paraspinal muscles. Relief and an enhanced
quality of life are in your future!