Oxford Chiropractic Treatment of Back Pain and Related Fatty Infiltration of Paraspinal Muscles

No doubt, our Oxford chronic back pain sufferers have heard about related paraspinal (multifidus, psoas, quadratus lumborum, erector spinae) muscle fatty infiltrate. These are all tied together: fatty muscle infiltration, disc degeneration, spinal stenosis, facet joint degeneration, back pain. Satterwhite Chiropractic 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 triggered by aging or genetics although it can also be prompted by lifestyle issues such as poor nutrition or little to no exercise. This condition does not always cause 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-known 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 that. (1) Satterwhite Chiropractic tests for these issues thoroughly during the chiropractic exam with an appreciation for the possible connection.

THE BACK PAIN AND WEAK PARASPINAL MUSCLE CONNECTION

A recent 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 correlated. The authors noted that the amount of paraspinal muscle weakness intensified with level 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 fixed, is one predictive of the other (back pain that there is fatty infiltrate or fatty infiltrate that indicates imminent back pain)? (3) Satterwhite Chiropractic keeps on top of published research and encourages our back pain patients to improve the muscles that they can so that they can maintain the spine in healing and preventing future episodes of pain as best as possible.

CHIROPRACTIC CARE OF BACK PAIN AND MUSCLE WEAKNESS

Satterwhite Chiropractic realizes that low back pain patients don’t just have pain; they also get to deal with muscle quality loss due to increased fatty infiltration of the paraspinal muscles. Just how much loss is highly correlated with the severity of the back pain and related dysfunction. (4) That’s the reason that rehabilitation is so important in addition to 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, Satterwhite Chiropractic is here to help! While researchers are still analyzing whether fatty infiltration is reversible, Satterwhite Chiropractic finds the attempt to tone and improve strength a worthwhile effort.

Listen to this PODCAST with Dr.  Kurt Olding on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes the multitude of options available to back pain sufferers regarding healthcare providers and emphasizes the benefit of seeking a chiropractor trained in the protocols of The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.

CONTACT Satterwhite Chiropractic

Make your Oxford chiropractic visit to address your back pain and weakened paraspinal muscles. Relief and an enhanced quality of life are in your future!

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"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by Dr. James M. Cox I."