TSC1 and Intervertebral disk degeneration: Hey HWD et al.221 successfully simulated human paraspinal muscle atrophy using TSC1 gene knockout mice, and their findings revealed that paraspinal muscle atrophy significantly accelerated intervertebral disc degeneration and height loss in the mice.A study using a ram model of intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) suggests that back muscle injury resulting from IVDD is characterized by structural remodeling of muscles, fat, and connective tissue, rather than being limited to muscle atrophy alone.222