Lumbar Strain/Sprain

By Spragge-Tessier

My Lower Back Hurts And I Don’t Know Why?

Lumbar strains and sprains are the most common causes of lower back pain.

What’s The Difference?

Lumbar Strain

When you pull or tear your back muscles.

Lumbar Sprain

When you stretch or tear the ligaments in your spine.

Common Injuries For DancersLower Back Strain

Kissing Spines

Schuermann’s Disease

Spondylolysis

Spondylolisthesis

Herniated Lumbar Disc

Lower Back StrainCauses

Occurs when the lower back muscle fibers are unusually stretched or torn.

- Lifting a heavy object.

- A sudden and weird movement.

- Improper technique.

- Working on the same lift for too long.

This will lead to a guarding and spasm of the back musculature to protect the area from further harm.

Lower Back StrainTreatments

- Rest

- Ice

- Anti-inflammatory medicine

Meeting with a physiotherapist can help identify weaknesses, tightness, and postural faults.

The dancer may also want to evaluate his/her own technique to help prevent further injury.

Kissing SpinesAKA Baastrup’s Disease

When the spinous processes of adjacent vertebra are touching.

Causes

- Sudden/forceful flexion of the spine (falls, or direct hits to the spine).

- Degenerative changes in the interspinous ligaments along the tips of the spinous processes of the vertebrae.

Kissing SpinesTreatment

- Ice/rest – maybe an anti-inflammatory.

- Physiotherapist consultations are valuable.

- The dancer should also be instructed by a doctor/physiotherapist as to how to perform everyday tasks (i.e. getting out of bed).

- It can be caused by harsh back/forward bends

Recovery Period: 1 – 6 weeks, and can dance again, once no pain is felt.

Schuermann’s DiseaseAKA Juvenile Kyphosis

Only found in children

Causes

- Unknown

- Some think it is caused by trauma on the growing spine or nutrition deficiencies.

Parents may notice a flattening or rounding of their child’s spine.

Schuermann’s DiseaseTreatment

- Should consult doctor

- Extension exercises & postural education

- Bracing, rest & anti-inflammatories may help reduce pain.

- Swimming

- Surgery, but very unlikely (if needed the spinal column is fused where needed).

Tech Tip

Curvature of the spine can occur later in life as a result of osteoporosis, so maintaining good bone health by eating well, and taking in enough calcium can be helpful in preventing osteoporosis (NYU).

SpondylolysisStress fracture of the lumbar vertebrae.

Causes

- Heredity.

- Hyperextension, or repeated stress (hence stress fracture).

- Stress fractures were already discussed, so we assume you already know how to treat them

- Pain will typically occur with port de bras or cambré backward.

SpondylolisthesisThe forward slippage of a vertebra.

Causes

- Stress fractures.

Treatment

- Strengthening & stretching exercises given by a physiotherapist.

- Back brace.

- Or if nothing else works a surgical fusing of the spine (the surgery limits the spines range of motion and has a high risk of nerve injury, so it is only used as a last resort).

Herniated Lumbar DiscBetween each vertebrae are discs, made up of a combination of strong connective tissues which hold one vertebra to the next. These discs act as a cushion between the vertebrae. As individuals age, the center portion of the disc (nucleus pulposus) may start to lose water content, making the disc less effective as a cushion. This may cause a displacement of the disc’s center through a crack in the outer layer (known as a herniated or ruptured disc). A herniated lumbar disc can ultimately press on the nerves in the spine and may cause pain, numbness, tingling or weakness of the leg called " sciatica."

Herniated Lumbar DiscCauses

- Falls

- Repetitive strain on the lumbar spine.

- Careless twisting of the spine

Treatment

- Physician & Physiotherapist needed.

- Postural corrections & activity modifications.

- Conservative management can often fix the disc.

- Surgery if needed (removal of part or all of the disc) – Recovery time post surgery: 6 – 8 weeks.

Spine Injury Prevention Tips Y’all

Keep the abdominal and back muscles strong and the hamstring muscles flexible.

A good upright posture while standing, sitting, and lifting during everyday life and implementing exercising routines takes unnecessary strain off the spinal structures.

Try to limit the amount of dancing each day, especially repetitive movements such as back bending.

Make sure you always fully warm up before class, rehearsal or performance

Spine Injury Prevention Tips Y’all

Try to maintain careful technique, and resist temptation to ‘cut corners’ to achieve movements such as forcing turnout, or tilting the pelvis.

It is particularly important to remember to maintain correct technique in positions which stress the spine, such as arabesque and attitude, and being aware of ‘lengthening’ the torso during any back-bending movements.

Seek medical care for chronic back pain. Early vertebral stress fractures, particularly in adolescents and young adults, may heal with rest.

Aerobic fitness can increase blood flow and oxygenation to all tissues, including the muscles, bones, and ligaments of the spine. Dancers should be encouraged to cross-train year round to maintain aerobic fitness.

Works Cited

"Lower Back Strain And Sprain." American Association of Neurological Surgeons. American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Sept. 2005. Web. 20 Mar. 2013.

Schexneider, Malton, and Kathy Ficarelli. "Low Back Sprains and Strains." Back Pain Relief Centre. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2013.

"Spine." Harkness Center for Dance Injuries. NYU Langone, n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2013.

Works Cited ROUND TWO

"Thoracic or Lumbar Sprain/Strain." Physical Therapy NYC. N.p., 20 Mar. 2013. Web. 20 Mar. 2013.

"Lumbosacral Strain." Lumbosacral Strain. Government of Canada, n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2013.

"Herniated Disk: MedlinePlus." U.S National Library of Medicine. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2013.