How to self-repair lumbar muscle strain

Written by Guan Jing Tao
Orthopedics
Updated on January 19, 2025
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Lumbar muscle strain, especially repeated lumbar and back sprains, as well as prolonged sitting, standing, exposure to cold, and chill, can all cause lumbar muscle strain. Therefore, it is first necessary to avoid excessive bending and lifting activities, as well as exposure to cold and chill, particularly abnormal bending and lifting activities. Normally, one should squat first, then lift heavier objects and hold them close to the abdomen, which is a more correct posture for lifting things. After injuring the lumbar muscles, it is advisable to persist with local physical therapy daily, such as heat therapy, acupuncture, and physiotherapy, while avoiding cold, chill, prolonged sitting, and standing. One can also take some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs orally. During the non-acute phase, when there is no obvious pain in the lumbar muscles, one can try exercises like planking, proper jogging, and pull-ups to enhance the strength of the back and lumbar muscles, which can promote the recovery of tissue damage from lumbar muscle strain and increase its strength.

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Written by Li Jie
Orthopedics
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What is the location for moxibustion for lumbar muscle strain?

Lumbar muscle strain, as the name suggests, is a fatigue injury of the lumbar muscles. The pathological changes mainly involve local muscle spasms, adhesions, and tension in the lumbar spine, and sometimes there is some disorder in the small joints. Generally, in moxibustion treatment, the most important point is to apply moxibustion at the pain points. We can manually press to locate the most painful area or where the muscles are most tense, and apply moxibustion there, which is known as Ashi point therapy. Secondly, we can select specific acupoints in the lumbar area for targeted moxibustion. Commonly used acupoints include Mingmen, Shenshu, and Yaoyangguan. Targeted moxibustion at these points is usually quite effective.

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Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
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How to care for a strained lumbar muscle

For patients with lumbar muscle strain, the following care measures should be taken: 1. Regularly wear a waist support to protect the lumbar spine. It is best to sleep on a hard bed, avoid excessive weight-bearing walking, avoid long periods of sitting or standing, and avoid excessively bending over to lift heavy objects. These measures can effectively alleviate the clinical symptoms of lumbar muscle strain. 2. Avoid cold and damp environments. Actively apply local heat treatments, using a salt bag or hot water bag for heat application twice a day, each time for more than half an hour for more noticeable effects. 3. Combine with some strength methods, such as acupuncture, moxibustion, and cupping, which are more beneficial for improving the patient's clinical symptoms. 4. Actively apply topical ointments that promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis; gradual recovery can be expected.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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Symptoms of lumbar muscle strain

Lumbar muscle strain refers to the condition where the muscles in the lower back are damaged due to chronic labor or sports activities, leading to excessive contraction of muscle fibers. This results in localized pain and limited mobility. The main symptoms include feeling soreness and pain during flexion and extension of the waist, and even feelings of weakness. The affected individual may not be able to carry heavy loads for long periods and, in severe cases, may not be able to stand upright and may require bed rest, accompanied by spasms in the lower back.

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Written by Li Jin
Orthopedics
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How to diagnose lumbar muscle strain

For the diagnosis of lumbar muscle strain, it is mainly based on symptoms, physical examination, or combined with imaging studies. The typical symptoms of lumbar muscle strain include soreness or swelling pain in the lower back, which worsens with exertion and lessens with rest. Patients are also unable to persist in activities that involve bending over. During a physical examination, tender points in the lower back may be found, or imaging studies can be used to rule out other lumbar spine conditions. Under these circumstances, a diagnosis of lumbar muscle strain can be made. Patients with lumbar muscle strain should pay attention to rest, and can use anti-inflammatory pain medications, combined with heat therapy, physiotherapy, massage, and blocking methods for treatment, which generally can effectively improve symptoms and promote recovery. (Specific medication use should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
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How long do you need to rest for a lumbar muscle strain?

Usually, patients with lumbar muscle strain need to actively rest and protect themselves for about seven to ten days to recover. However, during this period, they must actively cooperate with the treatment. Otherwise, if they continue to perform heavy physical labor, or are exposed to cold, the recovery time is unpredictable and may be prolonged. For such patients, local treatments such as hot compresses, massages, light therapy, and acupuncture can be used to promote the absorption of local creatine kinase. Additionally, they can use topical ointments that invigorate the blood and remove stasis, and take oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and blood-activating drugs. (Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a physician.)