The development of pain in the square muscle of the back is an extremely unpleasant phenomenon that makes you experience everyday discomfort, change your usual lifestyle, and suffer from loss of former mobility. What are the causes of such trouble? What symptoms indicate damage to the square muscle of the back? How to cure the disease? You can get answers to these and other questions by reading the article.
Anatomy
First, consider the anatomy of the square muscle of the back. It is located between the iliac crest of the spine and the 12th rib. Represented by paired, flat muscles that reach the back wall of the abdomen. Includes quadratus posterior and anterior.
The defining function is the movement of the ilium of the back. Also, the local muscles pull the twelfth rib down. The square muscle of the back is involved inmovements of the lower back from side to side. Its bilateral contractions cause the spinal column to be pulled back in the lumbar region.
Symptoms
How to understand that the cause of low back pain is damage to the square muscle of the back? The symptoms here are:
- Periodic numbness of the lower extremities, tingling sensation in the feet.
- Regular lower back pain, which even the rejection of physical activity and quality, long rest does not help to eliminate.
- Gradually increasing discomfort with the slightest activity.
- Increased discomfort in the lower back when going to sleep.
- Numbness of tissues in the perineum.
- Feeling of stiffness in the lower spine for half an hour after waking up.
- Spreading pain from the lower back to the buttocks.
If the square muscle of the back constantly hurts, one, several or a combination of the above symptoms are noted, in this case it is worth considering visiting a qualified doctor for a diagnosis.
Reasons
There are a wide range of prerequisites for the development of the quadratus dorsi syndrome. The cause of its occurrence is quite often the maintenance of a sedentary lifestyle, in particular, prolonged sitting day after day. The lack of moderate physical exertion on the muscles in the lumbar region leads to stagnant processes. Muscles are poorly supplied with oxygen and nutrients.substances. Local blood flow suffers. Atrophic phenomena cause arbitrary tissue contractions. Muscle fatigue develops. The lack of a he althy load on the musculature of the lower back provokes pain and leads to tissue stiffness.
Another common cause is bad posture. Holding the back in an unnatural position puts additional stress on the muscles. The result is the development of discomfort and a rather noticeable pain syndrome. Particularly affected by this are people who, for one reason or another, have to sit at the computer all day.
In some cases, the syndrome develops in the presence of a congenital pathology of the musculoskeletal system. We are talking about different lengths of the lower limbs. There is an unequal load on individual parts of the square muscle. Usually the pains make themselves felt on the side of the lower back, where the longer leg is located. Another part of the square muscle is gradually shortened due to minor physical exertion.
Traumatic effects on the lower back can also lead to the development of the syndrome. These can be blows or tissue damage during sports. Lifting excessively heavy loads negatively affects the state of the muscles in this area.
The square muscle needs regular training. After all, it is precisely these muscles that have to maintain the spine in a natural position. The weakening of the local muscular corset does not allow to cope with serious physical exertion. Therefore, it is not surprising that without periodictraining, the muscle begins to quickly get tired, overloaded, and the pain begins to radiate to the lower back.
Diagnosis
How to determine if the square muscle of the back is damaged? Diagnosis involves a series of examinations. There is a whole range of diseases, the symptoms of which are similar to the square muscle syndrome. Among these are:
- osteochondrosis;
- scoliosis;
- arthrosis;
- uterine fibroids;
- bladder infection;
- pelvic inflammatory disease.
Therefore, the first priority is the conduct of ultrasound and radiography. The results of such tests make it possible to exclude the development of the above diseases. Based on the results of the diagnosis, doctors get the opportunity to find out whether it is possible to talk about the development of the square muscle syndrome.
The presence of the disease can also be confirmed by palpation of the area in which discomfort occurs. Feeling the square muscle will cause a significant increase in pain. Especially if there is pressure on points in the region of the twelfth ribs.
Medicated treatment
Eliminate discomfort in the presence of square muscle syndrome allows taking medications that belong to the group of muscle relaxants. Such medications make it possible not only to relieve local pain, but also to relax tissues that are subject to intense voluntary contraction.
Effective anesthetics can be used to relieve discomfort. These drugs are injected into the musclesthrough injections. A good addition to therapy are steroid drugs that allow you to remove inflammation in the tissues.
Yoga
Regular yoga classes have the potential to loosen the quadratus muscle and significantly reduce pain levels. The basis of training should be exercises for stretching the lower back. Exercise has a positive effect on the emotional state of a person who has to constantly suffer from severe discomfort.
Square back muscles exercises
To resist the development of the syndrome allows the following exercises:
- Sipping up. The body must take a vertical position. The arms are extended as far as possible above the head. Each of them alternately performs movements as if you need to get an apple that hangs on a high branch. At the same time, the right knee is bent and the thigh is pulled up if the left arm is pulled up, and vice versa. Each hand performs 10 such "sips".
- Side Stretch. Get on your knees, while your hands rest on the floor. The knees must be closed. The hips need to be tilted to the side as much as possible without feeling discomfort. If the tilt is to the left, then you should turn your head to the right and look over your shoulder. Then return to the starting position and tilt to the other side.
- Belly twist. You need to lie on your side. The chest turns and presses to the floor. Hands stretched overhead. Perform a series of deep breaths and exhalations. Then the body is turned over to the other side, the exercise is repeated.
Exposure to heat and cold
Applying ice packs to the lower back is considered a fairly effective method of eliminating muscle pain. The method makes it possible to resist all kinds of tissue inflammation.
What about applying hot compresses to the lower back? Exposure to heat causes blood saturation of local tissues. Muscles are better fed with useful substances, metabolic processes are activated. Thus, the pain gradually disappears. Hot baths are often beneficial.
