Abstract
A handy dinamometer (Microfet®) has been introduced to measure the muscle strength in 49 patients with low back pain, cauda equina symptom or radicular pain, and in 35 asymptomatic controls. In sitting position , the “corset muscle” strength to raise up the trunk from 15 degrees posteriorly inclined position was measured. The mean strength of the controls were 116 Newton in males and 78N in females. The initial mean strength of the patients were 86N in 17 males and 64N in 32 females. In followed up patients, after introducing the simple muscle exercises in sitting position, these “corset muscle” strength has increased from 69N to 95N in 9 males and 51N to 78N in 15 females, and not only low back pain but also neurological symptoms due to several lumbar diseases and psychological factors has improved in 17 out of these 24 patients. The instant handy measurement of the muscle strength and simple muscle training were very useful in encouraging the patients to fight upon their pain.
