If you suffer from chronic back pain, like
many other Sitka back pain patients, odds
are you’ve heard of paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate. This spinal
issue can cause a great deal of discomfort and can even
result in gait disturbances. In this blog post, we will look more
closely at paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate and how it
is related to lumbar spinal stenosis and its treatment
with spinal manipulation available at Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka.
WHAT IS PARASPINAL MUSCLE FATTY INFILTRATE?
Paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate is a build-up of fat within the tissues of the muscles located
near the spine. This condition is often caused by aging or genetics, although 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 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 new report described how
the extent to which the gluteus medius is atrophied (degenerated)
influenced lumbar spinal stenosis symptomatology. (1) One of the most common spinal conditions
affecting more than 500 million people over 65 years old,
lumbar spinal stenosis, is related to altered
gait as gait relies on strong muscle activity. (2)
Sitka chiropractic patients know Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka 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 putting
pressure on spinal nerves – and resultant
Sitka 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 agreed that fat infiltration of the
paraspinal muscles like the multifidus muscle may be linked to lower back pain when it was not associated with other
factors like a person with back pain being
older, male, or having a higher BMI]78]. (4) Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka 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 consulted from nutrition,
surgery, exercise, drugs, and/or
spinal manipulation and mobilization. One study described
that one treatment of spinal manipulation was
documented to significantly decrease spinal
stiffness and enhanced the multifidus muscle thickness ratio that
maintained for more than 7 days for spinal manipulation
responders. (5) Your Sitka chiropractor uses such care 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 Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka
Paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate is a common condition
that can cause a range of issues including low
back pain, stiffness in the lower body, and gait disturbances. It is sometimes
associated with lumbar spinal stenosis. If you have any
symptoms related to paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate or
lumbar spinal stenosis, it's important to visit with
your Sitka chiropractor at Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka about your treatment
options so you can find relief as quickly as possible.
Make your appointment today!