How to effectively treat lumbar muscle strain?

Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
Updated on August 31, 2024
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The best treatment for lumbar muscle strain usually involves local heat application or massage. It is crucial to employ the correct massage techniques, such as kneading, pinching, and rolling, which can effectively promote local blood circulation, alleviate muscle tension, and improve the clinical symptoms of the patient's lumbar muscle strain. For severe pain, it may also be necessary to combine this with some medications, such as oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or use topical plasters that activate blood circulation and dissolve stasis. Additionally, it is essential to sleep on a hard bed, wear a waist belt for protection, and avoid fatigue, cold exposure, prolonged sitting or standing, excessive bending, and lifting or carrying heavy objects.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
1min 19sec home-news-image

Treatment methods for lumbar muscle strain

Firstly, general treatment is necessary, which mainly includes rest, or regularly changing posture, and avoiding bending over to lift objects. This is primarily to alleviate symptoms and prevent recurrence. Additionally, using a lumbar support belt at work can limit the range of motion of the waist and is very effective for lumbar muscle strain. Moreover, after entering the remission phase, when the pain has subsided, it is important to strengthen the muscles of the lower back. If the strength of the lower back muscles is improved, the stability of the lumbar spine will also improve, making lumbar muscle strain less likely to occur. Secondly, some physiotherapy can be applied to the painful area, including massage, manipulation, or acupuncture. Thirdly, if there are specific tender points, localized treatment around these points can be considered, which is highly effective. Fourthly, if the pain is particularly severe, affecting work and rest, or causing patient anxiety, consideration can be given to using some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers, muscle relaxants, or sedatives like diazepam. Therefore, treatment of lumbar muscle strain is essential and must be correctly administered. (Medications should be used under a doctor's guidance based on specific conditions.)

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Written by Li Jie
Orthopedics
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Is lumbar muscle strain easy to treat?

Lumbar muscle strain, as the name suggests, is a fatigue-related injury to the muscles of the lower back. It is primarily caused by excessive fatigue, a continuous state of tension in the lumbar muscles, leading to tension, spasms, and adhesions in the lumbar spine muscles. Sometimes, it may also involve minor joint disorders in the lumbar spine. Generally, the cause of lumbar muscle strain is quite clear. The first thing we recommend is that patients must rest in bed for a period, and this is to be combined with various conservative treatment measures such as acupuncture, massage, physiotherapy, electrical heating, or the external application of medicinal patches or moxibustion. With these treatments combined with rest, we generally achieve quite good therapeutic results. Therefore, lumbar muscle strain is relatively easy to treat and has good treatment outcomes.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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How to assist in the examination of lumbar muscle strain?

How should lumbar muscle strain be assessed through auxiliary examinations? What auxiliary examinations are needed for lumbar muscle strain? Clinically, lumbar muscle strain is quite common; out of every ten people, at least two or three have it. The characteristic of these patients is that their symptoms are severe but their physical signs are mild. Therefore, when encountering such patients, a screening process is generally required, which involves a method of exclusion. After examination, an X-ray is usually taken first to check for obvious lumbar spondylolisthesis, the severity of bone hyperplasia, and any traumas, whether fresh or old, that might have caused vertebral fractures. Then, some people might need a CT scan, which aims to exclude lumbar disc herniation. Many patients do not have herniated discs, or only have slight bulging, but their symptoms are severe, making them restless. Generally, there is no need for an MRI, but some patients strongly request an MRI examination. After the MRI, sometimes high-density shadows can be seen in the muscles of the lower back, which might be caused by injuries within these muscles. Therefore, the auxiliary examinations for lumbar muscle strain are usually negative, with few positive findings, which is a characteristic of this condition.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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Symptoms of lumbar muscle strain

Lumbar muscle strain refers to the condition where the muscles in the lower back are damaged due to chronic labor or sports activities, leading to excessive contraction of muscle fibers. This results in localized pain and limited mobility. The main symptoms include feeling soreness and pain during flexion and extension of the waist, and even feelings of weakness. The affected individual may not be able to carry heavy loads for long periods and, in severe cases, may not be able to stand upright and may require bed rest, accompanied by spasms in the lower back.

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Written by Guan Jing Tao
Orthopedics
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Apply heat to the lumbar muscles area for lumbar muscle strain.

Mostly, the affected areas with definite tender points are recommended for appropriate hot compresses, which can effectively improve lumbar muscle strain. In addition, lumbar muscle strain may be accompanied by definite local tender points, especially at the locations where muscle damage is clear. Applying hot compresses there can also effectively alleviate back pain and symptoms of restricted movement. It is recommended to persist with hot compresses, use heating pads, or apply some medicated plasters daily. Use heating pads once or twice a day, each session lasting 10 to 20 minutes. If using medicated plasters, follow the instructions, continuing for one to two weeks. Moreover, during the recovery period, avoid prolonged sitting, standing, and heavy lifting activities. (The use of medications should be carried out under the guidance of a professional doctor.)