If you experience chronic back pain, like
many other La Grande back pain sufferers, odds
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 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 Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC.
WHAT IS PARASPINAL MUSCLE FATTY INFILTRATE?
Paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate is a build-up of fat within the tissues of the muscles around the spine. This condition is often caused by aging or genetics, although it can
also be activated by lifestyle factors like poor nutrition or lack of exercise. It is
important to note that this condition
does not always cause 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 recent report described how
the extent to which the gluteus medius is atrophied (degenerated)
impacted lumbar spinal stenosis symptomatology. (1) One of the most common spinal conditions
impacting more than 500 million people over 65 years old,
lumbar spinal stenosis, is linked to altered
gait as gait relies on robust muscle activity. (2)
La Grande chiropractic patients know Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC 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 puts pressure on nerve roots and causes
pain and other symptoms in the lower back and legs – and resultant
La Grande back pain. Intervertebral disc degeneration and
fatty-infiltrated paraspinal muscles – multifidus, erector spinae, etc. – are related
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 associated with other
factors like a person with back pain being
older, male, or having a higher BMI]78]. (4) Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC 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 who was seen from drugs and surgery to exercise, nutrition, and/or
spinal manipulation and mobilization. A study reported
that one session of spinal manipulation was
documented to significantly decrease spinal
stiffness and increased the multifidus muscle thickness ratio that
lasted for more than 7 days in spinal manipulation
responders. (5) Your La Grande 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 details how The
Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management addresses back pain and
affiliated muscles.
CONTACT Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC
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 related to paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate or
lumbar spinal stenosis, it's important to speak with
your La Grande chiropractor at Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC about your treatment
options so you can find relief as fast as possible.
Schedule your appointment today!