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European Spine Journal
Published in: European Spine Journal 1/2006

01-02-2006 | Original Article

Relationship between low-back pain, muscle spasm and pressure pain thresholds in patients with lumbar disc herniation

Authors: Jiro Hirayama , Masatsune Yamagata, Satoshi Ogata, Koh Shimizu, Yoshikazu Ikeda, Kazuhisa Takahashi

Published in: European Spine Journal | Issue 1/2006

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Abstract

It is not known whether or not muscle spasm of the back muscles presented in patients with sciatic scoliosis caused by lumbar disc herniation produces muscle pain and/or tenderness. Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) of the lower back and low-back pain were examined in 52 patients (13 of 52 presenting sciatic scoliosis) with lumbar disc herniation who complained of radicular pain and in 15 normal subjects. PPTs were measured at five points bilaterally using an electronic pressure algometer. Low-back pain was evaluated using visual analogue scale (VAS) ratings. All patients complained of radicular leg pain and were divided into the following three groups according to the presence of and the region of low-back pain: no low-back pain group, low-back pain with no laterality group, and low-back pain dominantly on the herniation side group; the VAS rating on the side ipsilateral to the herniation side was higher than that on the contralateral side. In the normal subjects, there were no statistically significant differences between sides in mean PPTs at all sites examined. PPTs were not lower in the spasmodic side (concave side) than the convex side in patients with sciatic scoliosis. PPTs on the herniation side were significantly lower than those on the contralateral side in patients with low-back pain dominantly on the herniation side. Furthermore, the areas of low PPTs were beyond the innervation area of dorsal ramus of L5 and S1 nerve root. It was considered that not only the peripheral mechanisms but also the hyper excitability of the central nervous system might contribute in lowering PPTs of the lower back on the herniation side.
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Metadata
Title
Relationship between low-back pain, muscle spasm and pressure pain thresholds in patients with lumbar disc herniation
Authors
Jiro Hirayama
Masatsune Yamagata
Satoshi Ogata
Koh Shimizu
Yoshikazu Ikeda
Kazuhisa Takahashi
Publication date
01-02-2006
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
European Spine Journal / Issue 1/2006
Print ISSN: 0940-6719
Electronic ISSN: 1432-0932
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-004-0813-2

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