This Publication Is Searchable The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy Section 5. Musculoskeletal And Connective Tissue Disorders Chapter 62.
Any great force can tear the muscles and tendons of the lower back.
While twisting, pushing, or pulling, the patient experiences sudden lumbar pain. At first, exercise can often be continued, but after 2 or 3 h, continued bleeding stretches the torn muscles and tendons, and the resulting muscle spasm causes severe pain aggravated by back movement. On physical examination, there may be point tenderness or diffuse spasm and tenderness in the lumbar region, aggravated by any movement, particularly bending forward. Once healing begins, most patients benefit from exercises to strengthen abdominal muscles and to stretch and strengthen back muscles to restore flexibility. Exaggerated lumbar lordosis increases stress on the muscles and ligaments that support the back.