If you suffer from chronic back pain, like many other Southern New Hampshire back pain patients, odds are you have 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 look more closely at paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate and how it is associated with lumbar spinal stenosis and its treatment with spinal manipulation offered at New Hampshire Spine and Sport.
WHAT IS PARASPINAL MUSCLE FATTY INFILTRATE?
Paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate is an accumulation of fat within the muscle tissues located near 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 (degenerated) impacted 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 distorted gait as gait relies on robust muscle activity. (2) Southern New Hampshire chiropractic patients know New Hampshire Spine and Sport checks for gait issues during our chiropractic exam.
PARASPINAL FATTY INFILTRATE AND LUMBAR SPINAL STENOSIS
Paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate can be associated with 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 Southern New Hampshire 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 more fat, the more degeneration. (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 who was male, older or has a higher BMI older, male, or having a higher BMI. (4) New Hampshire Spine and Sport offers alleviating chiropractic treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis and its back pain.
LUMBAR SPINAL STENOSIS & SPINAL MANIPULATION
There are various treatment options for spinal stenosis influenced by the severity and the healthcare practitioner consulted from nutrition, surgery, exercise, drugs, and/or spinal manipulation and mobilization. One study reported that one session of spinal manipulation was found to significantly decrease spinal stiffness and increased the multifidus muscle thickness ratio that maintained for more than 7 days for spinal manipulation responders. (5) Your Southern New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire Spine and Sport
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 are experiencing any symptoms associated with paraspinal muscle fatty infiltrate or lumbar spinal stenosis, it's important to speak with your Southern New Hampshire chiropractor at New Hampshire Spine and Sport about your treatment options so you can find relief as quickly as possible. Make your appointment today!