Clinical Features – Mechanical back pain
Examination of MBP cases should not reveal any significant spinal abnormality or deformity such as a curvature of the spine.
Similarly there should not be any significant muscle wasting or neurological signs, such as reduced reflexes, loss of power or sensory disturbance (paraesthesia – numbness and tingling) in the lower limbs.
There is likely to be restriction of spinal movements due to pain with flexion being the commonest restriction, although a reasonable range of back movements should be present.
(In specific back pain with true nerve root compression, movements are restricted and painful in some directions, whilst in other directions they show very little restriction or pain.).
Spasm of the local para-spinal muscles may be present, causing pain and tenderness to palpation. This however is not likely to affect function significantly.
Symptoms
The onset of mechanical back pain is often sudden and associated with lifting or bending. Most people experience pain primarily in the lower back (lumbo-sacral region). The pain may spread (radiate) to the buttocks, and posterior thighs, it is often asymmetrical in distribution.
Many people also experience “spasms” with mechanical back pain. This is where spasm of the para-spinal muscles occurs with restriction of spinal movements.
These symptoms are usually more noticeable on activity e.g. when bending or lifting heavy objects. Back pain is often described as worse, or more severe, than any leg or thigh pain present.
The following are clinical features of Mechanical Back Pain: -
- No pathological changes present in the back.
- No neurological signs present in the legs.
- Not on a waiting list for spinal surgery or not had spinal surgery in the past 6 months.
For details of:
