Submitted by: Dr. Laura Perry
Client Information:
Age: 10-20 years old
Gender: female
Occupation: student
Pain Complaint Information:
Presenting Pain Complaint: lower back pain
Location of the Pain: thoraco-lumbar left side
Duration of the Pain: a few weeks
Type of Pain Onset: gradual onset
Pain Event or Cause: she was unsure
Pain Palliation: heating pad
Pain Provocation: serving a volleyball, or sitting too long
Postural & Biomechanical Analysis:
Postural Observations: She walked slightly bent forward with a moderate forward pelvic tilt
Biomechanical Observations: She winced when trying to straighten both legs and lay flat on her back
Additional Information:
She was a volleyball player, and she reported that her pain was worse after games or practices. A pediatrician referred her to me with diagnosis of “growing pains”, lol.
Based on this information, answer the following question(s):
- Which muscle(s) would you expect to contain active trigger points?
Update on Feb 23, 2011:
Dr. Perry’s initial session with this patient was only partially successful. On the follow-up visit, Dr. Perry identified and released a primary trigger point in the IlioPsoas muscle that was responsible for the patient’s symptoms. She also found trigger point activity in the Multifidi muscle group in the thoraco-lumbar spine, in the Latissimus Dorsi, and in the Iliocostalis Thoracis muscle groups.
The patient was pain-free after the second visit.