Treatment methods for lumbar muscle strain

Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
Updated on April 02, 2025
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Firstly, some non-surgical treatments, namely conservative treatments, should be carried out. The majority of patients can see significant relief in their symptoms after conservative treatment, and some of them may even be cured. Conservative treatment begins with general treatment. Primarily, it involves bed rest after the onset of lumbar muscle strain symptoms, ceasing work, and minimizing bending activities. Additionally, wearing a lumbar support is advised to prevent further injury. Secondly, it is appropriate to exercise the muscles of the lower back. If the strength of these muscles is increased, not only can it enhance the stability of the lumbar spine, but it can also reduce pressure inside the intervertebral discs and delay the aging and degeneration of the spine. Thirdly, physical and rehabilitation therapies should be employed. This mainly includes traction, physiotherapy, massage, acupuncture, and external application of traditional Chinese medicine. The goal is primarily to relax spasmodic back muscles. At the same time, it can alleviate pressure within the intervertebral discs and reduce the inflammation around the nerve roots. Fourthly, if the pain is extremely severe and significantly affects everyday life and work, consideration may be given to taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain medications, along with muscle relaxants. This can result in very effective pain relief. If the outcome of standardized conservative treatment is unsatisfactory, surgical treatment can be considered. However, for lumbar muscle strain, non-surgical treatment is generally preferred, with only a few patients requiring surgery.

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Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
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Symptoms of lumbar muscle strain

Lumbar muscle strain is mostly caused by excessive activity, overexertion, fatigue, and intense exercise, which leads to the continuous pulling of the lumbar muscle fibers beyond their load capacity, resulting in injury. After the injury, many patients may not have sufficient rest, causing the muscle fibers in the lumbar region to become scarred, which is referred to as lumbar muscle strain. The primary symptoms of lumbar muscle strain are pain and limited mobility in the lumbar region, especially after intense exercise or exertion, with the pain gradually worsening and possibly radiating to the buttocks on both sides. The main treatment involves rest, which is the most important. Additionally, treatments such as physiotherapy, rehabilitation, massage, acupuncture, and oral medication can be used to aid in the recovery and growth of lumbar muscles, with the main symptoms being pain in the lumbar area and restricted movement.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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Symptoms of lumbar muscle strain and fasciitis

First, it is a type of chronic pain without obvious causes, mainly characterized by soreness and swelling. The pain usually alleviates after rest but reappears if staying in one position for too long. Therefore, patients with myofascial inflammation caused by lumbar strain often feel restless. Second, there is usually a trigger point, typically located near or within a muscle, or at the junction between muscle and nerve. Pressing on the trigger point often results in radiating pain around it. Furthermore, the pain usually does not worsen but instead lessens over time, which is a key characteristic of myofascial inflammation. Third, the sacrospinalis muscle may become hardened or even spasm on one or both sides. Fourth, there is compensatory abnormal curvature of the spine, mainly presenting as protrusion or lateral curvature of the spine. Thus, the symptoms of myofascial inflammation from lumbar muscle strain usually include pain, specific pain points, surrounding muscle hardening, spasm, and compensatory spinal deformity.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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What is lumbar muscle strain?

What is lumbar muscle strain? Lumbar muscle strain refers to the cumulative injury of muscles and fascia in the lumbar region caused by long-term unbalanced postures or incorrect positions during labor. It is one of the common causes of lumbar pain. How to understand this definition? Lumbar muscle strain is first and foremost a cumulative injury. What causes it? First, incorrect postures—sitting straight is necessary. Slouching or hunching over, especially when idle, or sitting askew, is detrimental. Second, certain types of labor, like that of miners or farmers transplanting rice, consistently place the lower back in an imbalanced state, perpetually bending forward. This day-to-day accumulation leads to lumbar muscle strain.

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Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
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How many days will it take for a lumbar muscle strain to heal by itself?

Lumbar muscle strain is a chronic condition, not an acute onset. It is caused by fatigue, overexertion, trauma, and vigorous exercise, leading to prolonged and repeated strain, pulling, rupture, and damage of the lumbar muscles, resulting in scar formation and lumbar muscle strain. Therefore, this disease is essentially a chronic ailment, and its healing mainly relies on rest to promote recovery. If muscle damage occurs in the lumbar region and one does not rest, continuing to work and bear loads as usual, the muscles will not heal and will eventually become scarred. Thus, the duration for the healing of lumbar muscle strain depends not on the number of days, but whether adequate and proper rest has been taken. Additionally, applying medications that invigorate blood circulation and disperse blood stasis can assist in recovery. Generally, if care is taken to rest adequately, avoid carrying heavy loads, prevent fatigue, and avoid vigorous exercise, while also using oral medications or plasters that invigorate blood and dispel stasis, healing can gradually occur. However, the condition may recur under fatigue and strain in the future, as it is a chronic disease and complete healing is very difficult to achieve. (Note: This answer is for reference only. Medication should be administered under the guidance of a professional physician, and medications should not be used blindly.)

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Written by Guan Jing Tao
Orthopedics
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How to self-repair lumbar muscle strain

Lumbar muscle strain, especially repeated lumbar and back sprains, as well as prolonged sitting, standing, exposure to cold, and chill, can all cause lumbar muscle strain. Therefore, it is first necessary to avoid excessive bending and lifting activities, as well as exposure to cold and chill, particularly abnormal bending and lifting activities. Normally, one should squat first, then lift heavier objects and hold them close to the abdomen, which is a more correct posture for lifting things. After injuring the lumbar muscles, it is advisable to persist with local physical therapy daily, such as heat therapy, acupuncture, and physiotherapy, while avoiding cold, chill, prolonged sitting, and standing. One can also take some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs orally. During the non-acute phase, when there is no obvious pain in the lumbar muscles, one can try exercises like planking, proper jogging, and pull-ups to enhance the strength of the back and lumbar muscles, which can promote the recovery of tissue damage from lumbar muscle strain and increase its strength.