If you suffer from chronic back pain, like
many other Pensacola back pain sufferers, chances
are you’ve heard of paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate. This spinal
issue can cause a lot of discomfort and can even
result in gait disturbances. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate and how it
is associated with lumbar spinal stenosis and its treatment
with spinal manipulation available at Pensacola Spinal Rehab Center.
WHAT IS PARASPINAL MUSCLE FATTY INFILTRATE?
Paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate is an
accumulation 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 eating
poorly or not exercising. It is
important to note that this condition
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 as gait relies on hip muscles
like the gluteus medius. A recent report described how
the extent to which the gluteus medius is atrophied (degenerated)
influenced lumbar spinal stenosis symptomatology. (1) A
leading spinal condition
impacting more than 500 million people over 65 years old,
lumbar spinal stenosis, is linked to altered
gait as gait depends on strong muscle activity. (2)
Pensacola chiropractic patients know Pensacola Spinal Rehab Center 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
Pensacola back pain. Intervertebral disc degeneration and
fatty-infiltrated paraspinal muscles – multifidus, erector spinae, etc. – are linked
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 linked to 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) Pensacola Spinal Rehab Center offers alleviating
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 consulted from drugs and surgery to exercise, nutrition, and/or
spinal manipulation and mobilization. One study described
that one treatment of spinal manipulation was
found to significantly decrease spinal
stiffness and enhanced the multifidus muscle thickness ratio that
lasted for more than 7 days in spinal manipulation
responders. (5) Your Pensacola 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 Pensacola Spinal Rehab Center
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 time to speak with
your Pensacola chiropractor at Pensacola Spinal Rehab Center about your treatment
options so you can find relief as fast as possible.
Schedule your appointment today!