Role of fasciae in nonspecific low back pain

Abstract

More and more evidences show how the thoracolumbar fascia is involved with nonspecific low back pain. Additionally, recent studies about anatomy have shown the presence of a continuity between the thoracolumbar fascia and the deep fascia of the limbs; but actually, a dysfunction of just the thoracolumbar fascia or of the tightly contiguous myofascial tissue is generally recognized as possible cause of nonspecific low back pain. Five patients among those affected by nonspecific low back pain were manipulated just on those fascial spots that were painful, when palpated, and located in other areas of the body than the low back one. Each patient reported a clinically significant reduction of the painful symptoms (a Pain Numerical Rating Scale score difference ≥ 2) straight after the manipulation. A dysfunction of the myofascial tissue that is not tightly contiguous with the symptomatic area is then suggested to be taken into consideration among the causes of nonspecific low back-pain.