Hypertrophy Of Ligamentum Flavum & Slip-disc

Ligamentum flavum hypertrophy treatment is complex and requires specialized therapy devices and targeted therapy options by clinicians who have expertise in ligamentum flavum therapy and treatment. Chiropractic Specialty Center® (CSC) offers comprehensive non-surgical therapy options for patients with hypertrophy and buckling of ligamentum flavum.

Ligamentum flavum, a term derived from Latin meaning the yellow ligament, is a highly specialized ligament situated directly in the back or posterior aspect of the spinal canal, providing a segment-to-segment spinal connection through their laminal attachments on each side. Ligamentum flavum is a singular term, while ligamentum flava is used to describe it as a segmental ligamentum.  

This article provides in-depth information on ligamentum flava, including what causes it to thicken, its function, and the best physiotherapy combined with the best chiropractic treatment options in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

What Is The Function Of Ligamentum Flavum?

The ligamentum flava or flavum, or the yellow ligament, is a paired, thick, broad spinal ligament that runs from segment to segment connecting the spine with its attachment on the lamina (thin bony surface at the back of the spine). Ligamentum flavum is a paired ligament, with one on each side of the spine. We have listed the five critical functions of Ligamentum flavum:

1. Maintains an upright posture when standing
2. Assists when changing positions from a flexed or bent position into an upright posture (helps to straighten the spine after bending or flexion)
3. Protects the spine from excessive flexing (bending forward) or an excessive side-bending (lateral flexion)
4. Guides spinal joint alignment and positioning when changing positions
5. Connects spinal bones 

What Is Hypertrophy Of Ligamentum Flvaum Or Flava

Hypertrophy means thickening or enlargement of an organ or tissue. Ligamentum flavum hypertrophy relates to thicking, enlargement. Ligamentum flavum hypertrophy is an issue because of its proximity to the spinal cord, spinal joints, and spinal nerves. A thickened or enlarged ligamentum flavum is a leading cause of spinal canal stenosis (shrinkage in the spinal canal), foraminal stenosis, and spinal joint arthritis or hypertrophy. 

What Is The Normal Ligamentum Flavum Measurement 

On average, a normal or healthy ligamentum flavum should be about 3.5mm thick. However, for patients with smaller statures and those of Asian descent, the average standard thickness should be less than 3.5mm. Thickening progresses through life, and slight sub-millimeter thickening is expected or typical in the elderly. T

What Are The Dangers Of a Thickend & Hypertrophied Ligamentum Flaum?

The danger with thickening of ligamentum flavum is spinal canal stenosis, spinal cord compression, and nerve impingements. As the ligament increases in size, it shrinks or reduces the available space for the spinal cord and spinal nerve. The moderately hypertrophied ligamentum can buckle during sitting or standing, causing severe canal stenosis. The same will also occur with a severe thickening; however, severely thicked ligaments cause severe stenosis in supine (non-weight-bearing position) as well as with weight-bearing (standing or sitting). 

Moderate or severe hypertrophy of ligamentum flavum can cause excruciating pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness. Moreover, it is a leading cause of paralysis. 

Buckling Of Ligamentum Flvum

Buckling in reference to ligamentum flavum is a bulged, bend, curve outward, or bunch up with standing or sitting. Buckling is common in mild and moderate ligamentum flavum. Buckling of ligamentum flavum is dangerous as it can compress the spinal cord and spinal nerves. Therefore, even mild ligamentum flavum hypertrophy can be hazardous as it can buckle and impact the spinal canal, spinal cord, and spinal nerves in the same manner that moderate or severe ligamentum flavum hypertrophy causes. The moderate or mild ligamentum flavum hypertrophy buckles more because they are more elastic than the severely thickened ligament flavum.

The three most common causes of lower back pain in Malaysia are slipped disc, facet joint injury, and ligamentous issues. These three conditions co-exist most of the time, leading to severe pain in the back, buttocks, or lower limbs. It is challenging to differentiate clinically between a slipped disc, facet joint injuries, or ligamentous issues.

Facet Hypertrophy & Thickening Of Ligamentum Falvum?

Spinal joint (facet) injuries lead to facet hypertrophy or facet syndrome, a complicated spinal condition that requires urgent care. A thickened spinal joint (facet) is known as Facet hypertrophy.  

Joints of the spine or facet are connected through series of ligaments. These ligaments encapsulated (fully surround) the spinal joint. Spinal joint ligaments arise from ligamentum flavum. Injuries to spinal joints or activities that cause thicking of the ligamentum flavum are interrelated issues. In other words, an injured spinal joint can damage and thicken ligamentum flavum, and a thickened ligamentum flavum may cause facet hypertrophy. As such, facet and ligamentum flavum are co-conditions that often present simultaneously. 

Facet hypertrophy, Ligamentum Flavum Thickening & Slipped Discs

Patients with hypertrophy of ligamentum flavum also present with facet hypertrophy and slipped disc. In other words, you can’t get a thickened ligament flavum until you get a slipped disc or facet damage or hypertrophy first. The three most severe causes of neck and back pain are:

1. Facet Hypertrophy
2. Ligamentum flavum thickening
3. Slipped discs or slip-discs

Slipped discs, facet, and ligamentum flavum thicking are interrelated spine conditions that occur in successive stages, one following the other. Continued or unabated progression is typical in patients who neglect or ignore mild issues. Chiropractic Specialty Center® offers the best and most advanced neck pain, back pain, and ligamentum flavum treatment options without surgery or injections; contact our main center on 03 2093 1000 now! To recover, you will need a holistic measure that targets the root causes of all issues simultaneously.

Learn more about our non-operative treatment for slipped disc through technology that others do not have in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia:

Symptoms Of Facet hypertrophy Or Spinal Joint Injury

Patients with disc damages are more likely to report pain upon forwarding bending of the trunk. Whereas patients with facet joint injuries often complain of pain with extension of the lower back. Other than that, the site of maximal tenderness can be different between disc and facet joint injuries. The most tender spot for a patient with disc damage is more centrally around the spinous process. However, the most tender spot for a facet joint injury is more towards the side of the damaged side.

Hypomobility of one or more spinal segments is commonly associated with a slipped disc and facet joint damages. This can be one of the causes that contribute to lower back pain. Intervertebral segments with restricted movement should be corrected with mobilization or manipulation of the joint to manage the lower back pain.

What Is The Best Treatment For Hypertrophy Of Ligamentum FLavum?

Ligamentum flavum treatment and recovery are possible with evidence-based clinical forms of physiotherapy combined with non-rotatory chiropractic treatments. Physiotherapy or chiropractic as a standalone method of care is insufficient for ligamentum flavum. Rotatory chiropractic treatments such as the Gonstead chiropractic technique or the Diversified procedures are dangerous for patients with ligamentum flavum hypertrophy. The best way of chiropractic treatment of a thickened ligamentum flavum is through the Activator methods of chiropractic. 

However, chiropractic treatment is not enough. As such, patients will also need advanced systems of physiotherapy. Here is a list of the three most effective physiotherapy procedures for ligamentum flavum:

1. High-intesiy laser therp
2. ESWT shockwave therapy
3. Therapeutic Ultrasound

Chiropractic Specialty Cetner® in Malaysia is the only center that provides comprehensive non-surgical treatments for slipped discs (spinal disc damage), joints (facet injuries), and issues relating to hypertrophy of ligamentum flavum. Our corrective teams of chiropractors and physiotherapists are the best in Malaysia. Our chiropractors and physiotherapists provide combined treatment for back and neck pain through manual or hands-on methods and therapy via breakthrough spine technology to fix and repair your spine without surgery or injections. This highly sophisticated system of care is termed NSD Therapy®. CSC is the only NSD Therapy® certified center in Asia. Call us today to learn more about the benefits of NSD Therapy®.

For more information on slipped disc treatment centers in Malaysia or inquiries, please contact us at 03-2093 1000.