Linking histopathological changes in intervertebral disc with lumbar muscles strength

Low back pain (LBP) is a painful condition affecting 80% of word population at some point in their life. Lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration and reduced muscle force is one the major cause of LBP. Sixty-two patients with LBP undergoing discectomy were recruited after receiving consent. Lumbar muscles strength and VAS (visual analogue scale) for lumbar pain were checked, MRI scan were analysed. Histological degenerative changes were analysed. The study revealed histological degeneration at intervertebral disc has direct effect on increase in pain at lumbar region, decrease in strength of lumbar flexor and extensors muscles and degenerative changes seen on MRI scan.