Abstract
Many patients suffering from low-back pain present to a family physician. This paper will deal specifically with the moving parts of the lumbar spine as the source of low-back pain: muscles, discs, ligaments, apophysial (facet) joints. A detailed systematic approach is suggested to facilitate the identification of the particular tissues involved. Various modes of treatment—manipulations, tractions, epidural injections and sclerotherapy—are discussed.
Keywords: diagnosis, moving parts, low-back pain
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