Evaluating the frequency of hamstrings muscle Pain and tightness in Patients suffering from lumbosacral spinal Stenosis

Pain and hamstring muscles tightness is a common disorder among patients suffering from lumbosacral spinal stenosis. The origin of this problem may be the irritation of the spinal nerve roots or from the muscles.The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of muscle pain treatment in patients suffering from spinal stenosis. By an experimental study, during four years, all patients suffering from the lumbo sacral spinal stenosis in Ahwaz, Imam Khomeini hospital were recruited. They were sent for a ten days period of conservative therapy for their back. Their pain scale were measured before and after the treatment via visual analogue (VAS). If they did not respond to the early treatment and had suffered from hamstring tightness and pain more than 5.5 scale, they were sent for another conservative treatment for their hamstring muscles. Before and after the treatment changes of patient's pain and their ability to extent their knees were compared by paired T test. Overall 196 patients recruited. Seventy patients had suffered from a pain with the scale more than 5.5, along with the pain in extending their knees. Following receiving the conservative treatment for their hamstring muscles, their pain and ability to extent their knees improved (p=0.002). This study showed that some of the lumbosacral canal stenoic patients suffered from their hamstring muscle involvement too. The diagnosis and especial treatment of these muscles leads to a better outcome and avoiding unnecessary work ups.