Back Pain - Lumbar Muscle Strain
Written by Blueheronclinic.com Monday, 21 February 2011 09:36
What is Lumbar Muscle Strain?
The lumbar muscles of the lower back run along the lumbar spine which are the largest segments of the movable part of the vertebral column designated as L1 (Lumbar one) to L5 beginning from the top. Any sudden pain, spasm or stiffness in the lower back area affecting the lumbar muscles would be considered a lower back strain, this is usually not serious and can simply result from overwork, acute trauma or sudden movement during physical excercise.
Symptoms of Lumbar Muscle Strain
Symptoms of lumbar muscle strain include pain, inflamatioin, cramping and spasm. As a result of this type of lower back injury a person may also have difficulty moving freely and pain while resting due to the lumbar muscles going into spasm.
Causes of Lumbar Muscle Strain
Posture and improper lifting
improper lifting and posture can be a common cause of a lumbar or muscle spasm in the lower back. This can occur when someone lifts a heavy object by incorrectly bending his back instead of bending of his hips and his knees. This type of movement puts extreme strain on the lower lumbar back muscles, which can result in spasm. Therefore when liftinig heavy objects one should lift with the legs instead of using the lumbar or back muscles to lift.
Injury from sudden movement
Sudden and improper movements of the muscles lumbar spine can cause injuryt resulting in muscle spasm. This occurs when the lumbar muscles of the back become overstretched sudden or awkward lower back movement while working or during athletic activity. In many cases, standard massage or sports injury massage treatments allow strained lumbar muscles overstrained to heal properly, which can reduce the onset of lumbar muscle spasms.
Injury due to impact or trauma
Injuries to the lower back may also cause muscle spasms. Events such as car accidents, sports or work-related injury can result in lumbar muscle spasms and pain Lower back spasms can be painful and reduce a person's ability to function and move freely, therefore appropriate treatment is necessary to allow proper recovery. A patient should schedule an appointment with his or her doctor to ensure that no serious or permanent damage was done to the back during the injury and that proper treatment of lumbar muscle spasms can begin such as sports massage or acupuncture therapy.
The Treatment of Lumbar Muscle Strain
Rest your back muscles
During the early stages of lumbar muscle pain it is necessary to rest the muscles of the lower back area, this will give time for the inflammation to subside and for the frequency of muscle spasm to reduce. Bed rest for no more than 48 hours should begin immediately after injury to the lower back . Once the acute inflammation and spasms have stopped, light excercise and stretching should be initiated to avoid stiffness.
Medication
Anti-inflammatory meds and Acupuncture
There are two groups of medications which are helpful in treating acute symptoms lower lumbar back strain. The first of these are anti-inflammatory medications which help to control the inflammation caused by the original injury, and also help to reduce any pain.
Another treatment option for lower back injury is Acupuncture. Acupuncture, which is a branch of Traditional Chinese medicine has a long and distinguished history in the treatment of chronic or acute injuries resulting in pain - especially back pain. After injury to the lower back acupuncture can help to reduce inflamation and loosen the lumbar muscles while naturally building up strength in the lower back area. Your acupuncturist may recommend between 3 and 8 treatment sessions depending on the severity of the condition.
Physio Therapy and Excercise
Stretching & Strengtheniing the lumbar muscles
Proper physical conditioning is important to recover from lower lumbar muscle injury and avoid further issues further down the road. By gently stretching and conditioning the lower back muscles, you will help control the inflammation while reducing the chances of further injury. A qualified sports injury massage or physical therapist should be capable of assisting any injury to the lower back area, they may also employ acupuncure needling to local pain areas as part of their treatment regimen.
It is also important to understand that even if you are "in good shape," you may have weak low back muscles. When you have a low back muscle injury, you should perform specific exercises that stretch and strengthen the muscles of the low back, hips and abdomen. These exercises are relatively simple, do not require special equipment, and can be performed at home.
Is Further assessment required?
If your symptoms of lower back pain including inflamation and spasm continue to persist despite treatment, it is important to return to your doctor for a further evaluation where x-rays or other studies (MRI, CT scan, bone scan, laboratory studies) may be needed for your doctor to make an accurate diagnosis.
The Blue Heron Clinic uses Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat chronic pain including lower back pain and lumbar muscle strain.
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