lumbar strain

Question 1

What is it?

Answer 1

When muscle is subjected to an excessive tensile force, leading to overstraining of myofibres and leading to their rupture
May be triggered by physical/non physical activity - lifting most commonly recalled event

Question 2

Movements

Answer 2

Flexion
Extension
Side flexion
Rotation

Question 3

Where can it occur?

Answer 3

Erector spinae
Multifidus
Quadratus lumborum
Serratus posterior
Semispinales

Question 4

Strains

Answer 4

Tears (partial or complex) of the muscle-tendon unit

Question 5

Aetiology

Answer 5

Frequently result from a violent muscle contraction during an excessively forceful muscle stretch from lifting heavy objects/sudden twisting motions
Acute pain most intense 24-48 hours after injury

Question 6

Clinical presentation

Answer 6

Most common incident is lifting
1/3 of patients may not remember an inciting incident
Pain in lumbar muscles or non specific pain
Pain could be exacerbated during standing/twisting motions, active contractions and passive stretching of muscles increasing the pain
Point tenderness
Muscle spasm
Possible swelling in and around involved musculature
Possible lateral deviation in spine with severe spasm
Decreased ROM