If you experience chronic back pain, like
many other Montreal back pain patients, chances
are you’ve heard of paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate. This spinal
condition 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 related to lumbar spinal stenosis and its treatment
with spinal manipulation available at Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic.
WHAT IS PARASPINAL MUSCLE FATTY INFILTRATE?
Paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate is a build-up of fat within the muscle tissues around 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 depends on hip muscles
like the gluteus medius. A new report explained 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 associated with distorted
gait as gait relies on strong muscle activity. (2)
Montreal chiropractic patients know Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic evaluates gait
in all our patients 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 results
in lower back pain and even pain down the legs by exerting
pressure on spinal nerves – and resultant
Montreal 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) Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic 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 who was seen from drugs and surgery to exercise, nutrition, and/or
spinal manipulation and mobilization. A study reported
that one treatment 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 Montreal chiropractor uses such care for back pain relief, particularly 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 Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic
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 have any
symptoms associated with paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate or
lumbar spinal stenosis, it's important to speak with
your Montreal chiropractor at Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic about your treatment
options so you can find relief as quickly as possible.
Make your appointment today!