Causes of Lumbar Muscle Strain

Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
Updated on September 02, 2024
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The causes of lumbar muscle strain generally include two points: First, after an acute lumbar injury, such as a sprain or trauma, proper treatment is not administered, and sufficient rest is not taken when needed, leading to improper treatment and eventually resulting in chronic lumbar muscle strain. The second point, which is also the main reason, is due to the lumbar region being in a state of continuous tension during prolonged work. This causes the muscles in the lumbar region to be under constant stress, then compressing the small blood vessels, leading to insufficient oxygen supply to the lumbar muscles, and causing metabolic byproducts like lactic acid to accumulate. This eventually stimulates local inflammatory responses that contribute to injury. Initially, the muscles themselves can make some compensatory adjustments. However, as the condition worsens, this ability to regulate increasingly diminishes until it can no longer adjust, leading then to compensatory regulation, also known as serial compensatory adjustment. Thus, if lumbar muscle strain is not treated properly or in a timely manner, the condition will progressively worsen, eventually causing the lumbar muscles to lose their original function and potentially leading to a deformity in the lumbar region. Therefore, the main reasons for lumbar muscle strain are firstly, improper treatment during the acute phase that transitions into chronic lumbar muscle strain, and secondly, the lumbar muscles being in a state of long-term overload, ultimately leading to strain.

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Written by Li Jie
Orthopedics
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What is the location for moxibustion for lumbar muscle strain?

Lumbar muscle strain, as the name suggests, is a fatigue injury of the lumbar muscles. The pathological changes mainly involve local muscle spasms, adhesions, and tension in the lumbar spine, and sometimes there is some disorder in the small joints. Generally, in moxibustion treatment, the most important point is to apply moxibustion at the pain points. We can manually press to locate the most painful area or where the muscles are most tense, and apply moxibustion there, which is known as Ashi point therapy. Secondly, we can select specific acupoints in the lumbar area for targeted moxibustion. Commonly used acupoints include Mingmen, Shenshu, and Yaoyangguan. Targeted moxibustion at these points is usually quite effective.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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Can lumbar muscle strain be massaged?

Lumbar muscle strain can be treated with massage if the technique and pressure are appropriate, making it a very important treatment method. Lumbar muscle strain generally involves the muscles which, due to prolonged overload, leads to reduced self-regulatory capacity or chronic aseptic inflammation of the muscle or its attachment points due to poor self-regulation. If the massage technique is correct, it can enhance local blood circulation and accelerate cellular metabolism. This helps in the faster elimination and release of inflammatory substances and pain factors. Moreover, massage can also relax tense muscles, allowing the strained lumbar muscles to rest and the damaged areas to recuperate. Therefore, lumbar muscle strain can indeed benefit from massage, and with the correct techniques, it can have a very effective therapeutic impact.

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Written by Li Jie
Orthopedics
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Can you swim with a strained lumbar muscle?

Lumbar muscle strain, as the name implies, is the fatigue damage to the lumbar spine muscles. It is characterized by tension, spasms, and adhesion of the lumbar muscles, sometimes accompanied by disorders of the lumbar facet joints, straightening of the lumbar curvature, and limited lumbar mobility. Swimming is permissible in such cases because the body is in a weightless state while swimming. This condition allows swimming to strengthen the muscles of the lower back and enhance the muscular strength of the lumbar spine, which can help in exercising and alleviating symptoms. Hence, it is said that one with lumbar muscle strain can swim.

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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 Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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Lumbar muscle strain physical therapy methods

After a lumbar muscle strain, physical therapy is a very important treatment method, and when properly handled, it is greatly beneficial to the recovery of the condition. Physical methods include: First, physical therapy should be applied to the area of pain, primarily involving appropriate massage and manipulation. Second, after the acute phase, local heat application can be used, such as wrapping a hot water bottle with a towel. Third, iontophoresis with medications can be applied to the painful area, which is a crucial aspect of treating lumbar muscle strain with traditional Chinese medicine and herbs. Fourth, treatment with microwave or ultrasound can also be conducted. Generally, it is believed that ultrasound therapy has a very good effect on lumbar muscle strain. Finally, acupuncture or traditional Chinese medical traction can also be performed, which usually has a very good effect on lumbar muscle strains.