Beyond Weak Minster Back Muscles: How Exercise Reverses Unseen Spine Muscle Damage
If you are suffering with chronic back pain from spinal disc issues, the source of your pain may not be what you think—it's rarely just the discs. Recent research reveals that the muscles supporting your spine—particularly the erector spinae muscles that run along your back—can develop what's called "fatty infiltration," where healthy muscle tissue is gradually replaced by fat. This process diminishes your spine's natural support system and contributes to ongoing Minster back pain.
THE HIDDEN PROBLEM: FATTY MUSCLE INFILTRATION
When you have intervertebral disc disease, your paraspinal muscles don't just get weak—they actually change at a cellular level. Research demonstrates that "fatty infiltration of the erector spinae at the upper lumbar spine could be a landmark for low back pain" (1). This creates a vicious cycle: disc problems lead to muscle alterations, which decrease spinal support, potentially worsening disc health over time.
Disc degeneration and muscle fat infiltration don't just coexist—they actively influence one another. As pointed out by Jiang et al. (2), there happens to be a critical interaction between lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration and fat infiltration of paraspinal muscles, where these conditions impact each other in ways that can continue back pain and dysfunction.
EXERCISE: YOUR PATH TO MUSCLE RECOVERY
The good news? With the right exercise program, you can reverse these changes. A recent randomized controlled trial reported that combined motor control training and isolated extensor strengthening produced superior outcomes compared to general exercise tactics for bettering "lumbar paraspinal muscle health" in chronic low back pain patients (3).
This approach emphasizes retraining how your deep support muscles interact while you restore the erector spinae that have deteriorated. Unlike general exercise programs, these targeted interventions fix the real issue—getting rid of that fat and building back healthy muscle.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOUR RECOVERY
Working with your Minster chiropractor at Minster Chiropractic Center to develop an exercise program that incorporates both motor control training and specific strengthening exercises can reverse the muscle damage caused by disc problems. As Rosenstein et al. (2025) explained, this comprehensive approach takes on both the mechanical and neuromuscular aspects of your condition, opening the door to real recovery rather than quick fixes.
Remember, while healing requires patience, research proves the right exercises can restore muscle health and eliminate pain for good.
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Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. John Murray on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he shares the effective gentle protocols of The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management alongside exercise.
