As a common disease in clinical, the treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH) focused on local intervertebral disc, such as surgery and other interventional therapy treatment, but postoperative complications and recurrence rate has been a difficult problem in the field of profession. With the development of spine biomechanics and anatomy, researches on lumbar herniation also increased. Researchers discovered that the incidence and prognosis of LDH were inseparable with local muscle and soft tissue. As the deep paraspinal muscles, multifidus muscle plays an important role to make lumbar stability. Its abnormal function could reduce the stable of lumbar spine, and the chronic lumbar disease could also lead to multifidus muscle atrophy.
Animals ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Lumbosacral Region ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Paraspinal Muscles ; physiopathology

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Hip ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Knee ; physiopathology ; Lumbosacral Region ; injuries ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Sprains and Strains ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the possible mechanisms of chronic nonbacterial prostatitis (CNP) pain.

METHODSCNP models were established in male Wistar rats by the autoimmune method. Then the paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) was detected using the Von Frey filament, prostate pathological examination was conducted, the expressions of substance P (SP) and transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) in the prostate tissue and L5-S2 spinal segments were determined by immunohistochemistry and their correlations were analyzed.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the CNP model rats showed markedly decreased PWT (P < 0.05) and obvious inflammation in the prostate tissue, with significant differences in the scope of lesion and interstitial lymphocyte infiltration (P < 0.05). The expressions of SP and TRPV1 in the prostate and spinal cord dorsal horn L5-S2 were remarkably upregulated in the models as compared with the control rats (P < 0.05). However, the expression of SP in the prostate was not correlated with that in the spinal cord (r = 0.099, P = 0.338), nor was that of TRPV1 (r = 0.000, P = 0.5).

CONCLUSIONSP and TRPV1 were involved in the formation and persistence of pain in CNP rats through their upregulated expressions in the L5-S2 spinal segments.

Animals ; Lumbosacral Region ; Male ; Neuralgia ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Pain ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Prostate ; metabolism ; Prostatitis ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spinal Cord ; metabolism ; Substance P ; metabolism ; TRPV Cation Channels ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical efficacy of Panlongqi tablet (Chinese characters) combined with lumbar facet joint release for lumbar spinal stenosis of type Fengshi Bizu (Chinese characters).

METHODSSince February 2012 to February 2013, 120 patients with lumbar spinal stenosis of Fengshi Bizu (Chinese characters) syndrome were retrospectively studied. According to different treatment methods, 120 patients with lumbar spinal stenosis were divided into Panlongqi tablet (Chinese characters)group and control groups, respectively. In Panlongqi tablet (Chinese characters)group, 60 patients were treated by Panlongqi tablet (Chinese characters) combined with lumbar facet joints release solution including 26 males and 34 females with an average age of (60.40±3.36) years old ranging from 46 to 65 ; the course of the disease was 2 to 15 years (averaged 7.6 years). In control group the other 60 patients were treated with lumbar facet joint release including 24 males and 36 females with an average age of (61.20±2.47) years old ranging from 48 to 63; the course was 3 to 14 years (averaged 6.9 years). The clinical effect of patients were evaluated by JOA and ODI score before treatment, at 4 weeks and 3 months after treatment.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up for 4 to 7 months (means 5.6 months). After 3 months,7 cases in control group recurrenced symptoms,only 1 case in Panlongqi tablet (Chinese characters) group recurrenced. At 4 weeks and 3 months of follow-up, ODI score and JOA score of Panlongqi tablet group were much better than those of the control group.

CONCLUSIONFor lumbar spinal stenosis of type Fengshi Bizu (Chinese characters),which were treated with lumbar facet joint release with Panlongqi tablet(Chinese characters), supplemented by back muscle exercise, in relieving waist and low back pain symptoms and improving functional status of lower lumbar spine, can obtain satisfactory clinical outcome, is a good method of conservative treatment for such diseases.

Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Exercise Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbosacral Region ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Punctures ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Stenosis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo observe the basic characteristics of rats with subluxation, which was hypomobility of motion.

METHODSOne hundred and eight male SD rats (weighted, 350 to 450 g) were randomly divided into experimental group (simple fixation and rotatory fixation) and sham operation group. Each group was subdivided into four groups, including 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks sub-groups. Simple fixation and rotatory fixation group were modeled by implanting external linked fixation system; Sham operation group was dealed with operation intervention. At the end of connection, X-ray films was used to observe posterier body angle (PBA); Spinal stiffness system for stiffness in simple fixation group and rotatory fixation group.

RESULTSRadiographic results showed that variation of PBA n experimental groups tended to decrease; and there was no significant difference between simple fixation group and rotatory fixation group at the end of linking time (P > 0.05). But there was significant difference between the experimental group and sham operation group (P < 0.05). The degree of stiffness showed that the stiffness in experimental group increased with the linking time, but no meaning between groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONRats with subluxation induced by external linked fixation system can effectively change biomechanical characteristics of spine, reduced the motion with linking time.

Animals ; External Fixators ; Fracture Fixation ; Humans ; Joint Dislocations ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Lumbosacral Region ; injuries ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Male ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of electroacupuncture on the muscle condition and electrophysiology of the muscle in rabbits with lumbar nerve root compression and to explore potential mechanisms.

METHODSTwenty-four New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a medication group and an electroacupuncture group. The rabbit model with lumbar nerve root compression was established in the model group, the medication group and the electroacupuncture group. The model and the treatment were not produced in the normal group. The medication group was treated with oral administration of Loxoprofen tablets at a dose of 30 mg each day for 14 days. The electroacupuncture group was treated with electroacupuncture at "Jiaji" (EX-B 2) of L5 and L6 for 14 days. The hibateral muscle condition before and after making model and after treatment was detected and the electromyogram and the nerve conduction velocity (NCV) were observed.

RESULTSThe spontaneous potential and the insertion potential were increased in the model group, the medication group and the electroacupuncture group after making model. The value of the activation and the relaxed condition of the strength-creep (ARCSC) in the right muscle was significantly decreased. The motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) and the wave amplitude of evoked potential (WAEP) were significantly decreased in the model group, the medication group and the electroacupuncture group after treatment, but the value of MNCV and WAEP in the electroacupuncture group, and ARCSC in the right muscle in the electroacupuncture group and the medicine group were closed to those level in the normal group, among them, the relaxed condition in the electroacupuncture group was more close to the level in the normal group.

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture can improve the strength-creep condition of the muscle that damage nerve place controls and the electrophysiology of the muscle can recover the MNCV and the wave amplitude of evoked potential in the compression nerve root.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbosacral Region ; innervation ; Male ; Muscle Contraction ; Muscles ; physiopathology ; Neural Conduction ; Rabbits ; Radiculopathy ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Random Allocation

OBJECTIVETo observe therapeutic effect of small needle-knife comprehensive therapy on pain and lumbar flexion range in the chronic nonspecific low back pain patient.

METHODSThree hundred and five cases were randomly divided into a needle-knife group of 153 cases and a physiotherapy group of 152 cases. The needle-knife group were treated with small needle-knife releasing therapy, blocking and functional training. The physiotherapy group were treated with ultra-short wave, modulated medium frequency current, massage and functional training. Pain was assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS) and the lumbar flexion range was determined before and after treatment.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the pain and the lumbar flexion range were significantly improved in the two groups; and after treatment, the VAS score and the lumbar flexion range were (1.60 +/- 0.38) points and (65.76 +/- 15.11) cm in the needle-knife group and (4.59 +/- 1.09) points and (53.74 +/- 15.13) cm in the physiotherapy group, respectively, the needle-knife group being significantly better than the physiotherapy group (P < 0.01). Follow-up survey of 6-36 months showed that the VAS score and the lumbar flexion range in the needle-knife group were superior to those in the physiotherapy group.

CONCLUSIONSmall needle-knife comprehensive therapy can significantly improve pain and lumbar flexion range in the chronic nonspecific low back pain patient, with a stable long-term therapeutic effect.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Chronic Disease ; therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; physiopathology ; rehabilitation ; therapy ; Lumbosacral Region ; physiopathology ; Male ; Massage ; Middle Aged ; Radiotherapy

BACKGROUNDThere has been some controversy related to the use of the Wallis system, rather than disc fusion in the treatment of patients with degenerative spine disease. Furthermore, there are no reports concerning the application of this dynamic stabilization system in Chinese patients, who have a slightly different lifestyle with Western patients. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of the dynamic stabilization system in the treatment of degenerative spinal diseases in Chinese patients.

METHODSThe clinical outcomes of 20 patients with lumbar degenerative disease treated by posterior decompression with the Wallis posterior dynamic lumbar stabilization implant were studied. All of the patients completed the visual analogue scale and the Chinese version of the Oswestry Disability Index. The following radiologic parameters were measured in all patients: global lordotic angles and segmental lordotic angles (stabilized segments, above and below adjacent segments). The range of motion was then calculated.

RESULTSNineteen patients (95%) were available for follow-up. The mean follow-up period was (27.25 ± 5.16) months (range 16 - 35 months). The visual analogue scale decreased from 8.55 ± 1.21 to 2.20 ± 1.70 (P < 0.001), and the mean score on the Chinese version of the Oswestry Disability Index was improved from 79.58% ± 15.93% to 22.17% ± 17.24% (P < 0.001). No significant changes were seen in the range of motion at the stabilized segments (P = 0.502) and adjacent segments (above, P = 0.453; below, P = 0.062). The good to excellent result was 94.4% at the latest follow-up. No complications related to the use of the Wallis posterior dynamic lumbar stabilization occurred.

CONCLUSIONSIt was found to be both easy and safe to use the Wallis posterior dynamic lumbar stabilization implant in the treatment of degenerative lumbar disease, and the early therapeutic effectiveness is good. The Wallis system provides an alternative method for the treatment of lumbar degenerative disease.

Aged ; Decompression, Surgical ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Lumbosacral Region ; pathology ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Diseases ; pathology ; physiopathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVESTo compare the paravertebral muscle (such as multifidus, erector spinae, psoas muscle) changes between the patients with degenerative lumbar instability and normal person by MRI and to observe the degeneration of paravertebral muscles. To analyze the relationship between paravertebral muscle degeneration and lumbar curvature of degenerative lumbar instability.

METHODSSixty patients with degenerative lumbar instability were retrospectively enrolled from December 2011 to July 2013 as degeneration group, meanwhile 60 health persons with no degenerative lumbar instability were selected as control group. No significant differences were found in the gender, age and body mass index between the two groups. The cross-sectional area(CSA) and percentage of fat infiltration area (FIA) of the paravertebral muscles at the L4-S1 levels were measured using T2-weighted axial MRI and Image J soft ware. And the lumbar curvature(expressed as lumbar lordosis angle) of all the patients in lumbar X-ray were measured in the two groups. The measured data were analyzed with independent samples t-test.

RESULTSThe difference of multifidus cross-sectional area and the percentage of fat infiltration in the patients of degenerative lumbar instability at the L4-L5, L5-S1 level, compared with the control group, was statistically significant (t = 2.768, t = 6.216, P < 0.05). Between the two groups, the percentage of fatty infiltration in erector spinae showed significant differences (t = 5.862, P < 0.05). The cross-sectional area of erector spinae and the degeneration of the psoas muscle between the two groups was not statistically significant. The lumbar lordsis angle in the patients with degenerative lumbar instability was (43.9 ± 15.6)°, which was higher than the (39.3 ± 14.2)° in control group (t = 2.915, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCompared with the control group, patients with degenerative lumbar instability exists erector spinae and multifidus muscle degeneration, and erector spinae is more obvious. The degeneration among psoas muscle, erector spinae and multifidus muscle are inconsistent, which may be related to the increasing of the lumbar lordosis angle in the patients with degenerative lumbar instability.

Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Joint Instability ; diagnosis ; etiology ; pathology ; Lumbosacral Region ; physiopathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Skeletal ; pathology ; Muscular Atrophy ; complications ; diagnosis ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo observe low back fatigue of subjects before and after simulated driving, and to study the role of the belt used in prevention of low back fatigue of drivers during driving.

METHODSTo assess the changes in median frequency (MF), mean power frequency (MPF) of surface electromyogram (SEMG), and flicker frequency, visuognosis persistence of drivers with and without protective belt in simulated driving.

RESULTSThere were significant differences in MF [(47.35 +/- 6.07), (39.26 +/- 5.79), (47.21 +/- 6.02), (43.44 +/- 6.26) Hz respectively], MPF [(69.86 +/- 7.08), (59.12 +/- 7.19), (69.86 +/- 7.08), (63.88 +/- 7.49) Hz respectively] between before and after simulated driving without or with the special belt (P < 0.01). But no differences in MF or MPF between without and with the belt before simulated driving were found (P > 0.05). The flicker frequency [(35.64 +/- 2.82), (42.31 +/- 4.68), (35.96 +/- 3.05), (39.79 +/- 3.36) Hz], visuognosis persistence (65.77% +/- 3.94%, 56.83% +/- 5.68%, 65.88% +/- 3.92%, 62.27% +/- 2.91%) had some changes too.

CONCLUSIONSimulated diving could induce fatigue of back muscle in drivers. However, the protective belt can effectively prevent low back fatigue of drivers in simulated driving.

Adult ; Automobile Driving ; Electromyography ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; etiology ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Lumbosacral Region ; Male ; Muscle Fatigue ; physiology ; Muscle, Skeletal ; physiology ; Posture ; physiology ; Protective Devices