Rabu, 13 Juli 2011

The function of the low back

The importance of knowing the function of the vertebrae because as the support of the body, Important structures of the low back that can be related to symptoms there include the bony lumbar spine .The low back, or lumbar area, serves several crucial features for any body of a human. These functions consist of structural support, movement, and protection of specific body tissues.

When we stand, the lower back is functioning to support the weight of the upper body. When we bend, extend, or rotate in the waist, the lower back is involved within the movement. Therefore, injury to the structures critical for weight bearing, including the bony spine, muscles, tendons, and ligaments, frequently can be detected when the body is standing erect or employed in different movements.

Defending the soft tissues of the nervous program and spinal cord at the same time as nearby organs of the pelvis and abdomen can be a crucial function the lumbar spine and its adjacent muscles.

What are common causes of lower back discomfort?
Common causes of low back discomfort (lumbar backache) contain lumbar strain, nerve irritation, lumbar radiculopathy, bony encroachment, and conditions of the bone and joints. Each of these is reviewed below.

Lumbar strain (acute, chronic)

A lumbar strain is really a stretch injury to the ligaments, tendons, and/or muscles of the low back. The stretching incident results in microscopic tears of varying degrees in these tissues. Lumbar strain is regarded as 1 of essentially the most typical causes of low back pain. The injury can occur since of overuse, improper use, or trauma. Soft-tissue injury is generally classified as "acute" if it has been present for days to weeks. If the strain lasts longer than 3 months, it is referred to as "chronic."

Lumbar strain most usually occurs in men and women in their 40s, but it can take place at any age. The condition is characterized by localized discomfort in the low back location with onset soon after an event that mechanically stressed the lumbar tissues. The severity of the injury ranges from mild to severe, depending on the degree of strain and resulting spasm of the muscles of the low back.

The diagnosis of lumbar strain is based on the history of injury, the location of the discomfort, and exclusion of nervous method injury. Normally, X-ray testing is only helpful to exclude bone abnormalities.

The treatment of lumbar strain consists of resting the back (to avoid reinjury), medications to relieve discomfort and muscle spasm, local heat applications, massage, and eventual (soon after the acute episode resolves) reconditioning workouts to strengthen the low back and abdominal muscles. Initial treatment at property may well consist of heat application, acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and avoiding reinjury and heavy lifting. Long periods of inactivity in bed are no longer recommended, as this treatment might really slow recovery. Spinal manipulation for periods of up to one month has been discovered to be beneficial in some patients who don't have signs of nerve irritation. Future injury is avoided by using back-protection techniques during activities and support devices as needed at house or work.


Nerve irritation

The nerves of the lumbar spine may be irritated by mechanical pressure (impingement) by bone or other tissues, or from illness, anywhere along their paths -- from their roots at the spinal cord to the skin surface. These conditions consist of lumbar disc disease (radiculopathy), bony encroachment, and inflammation of the nerves caused by a viral infection (shingles). See discussions of these conditions below.


Lumbar radiculopathy

Lumbar radiculopathy is nerve irritation which is caused by damage to the discs between the vertebrae. Harm to the disc occurs simply because of degeneration ("wear and tear") of the outer ring of the disc, traumatic injury, or both. As a result, the central softer portion of the disc can rupture (herniate) by way of the outer ring of the disc and abut the spinal cord or its nerves as they exit the bony spinal column. This rupture is what causes the commonly recognized "sciatica" pain of a herniated disc that shoots from the low back and buttock down the leg. Sciatica can be preceded by a history of localized low-back aching or it can follow a "popping" sensation and be accompanied by numbness and tingling. The discomfort generally increases with movements in the waist and can increase with coughing or sneezing. In a lot more severe instances, sciatica may be accompanied by incontinence of the bladder and/or bowels. The sciatica of lumbar radiculopathy usually affects only 1 side of the body, including the left side or appropriate side, and not each.

Lumbar radiculopathy is suspected based on the above symptoms. Increased radiating pain when the lower extremity is lifted supports the diagnosis. Nerve testing (EMG/electromyogram and NCV/nerve conduction velocity) of the lower extremities might be employed to detect nerve irritation. The actual disc herniation could be detected with imaging tests, for example CAT or MRI scanning.

Treatment of lumbar radiculopathy ranges from medical management to surgery. Medical management consists of patient education, medications to relieve discomfort and muscle spasms, cortisone injection around the spinal cord (epidural injection), physical therapy (heat, massage by a therapist, ultrasound, electrical stimulation), and rest (not strict bed rest but avoiding reinjury). With unrelenting pain, severe impairment of function, or incontinence (which can indicate spinal cord irritation), surgery could be essential. The operation performed depends on the overall status of the spine as well as the age and wellness of the patient. Procedures contain removal of the herniated disc with laminotomy (a modest hole inside the bone of the lumbar spine surrounding the spinal cord), laminectomy (removal of the bony wall), by needle method (percutaneous discectomy), disc-dissolving procedures (chemonucleolysis), and others

0 komentar:

Posting Komentar