The Potential Dangers Of Placing An Excessive Weight Load On The Thoracic And Lumbar Spine In A Fixed Plane Of Motion - Page #1
 

Author: Marc Raj, DO

Patient Presentation:
A 27 year-old male presented with severe low back pain and inability to move his legs.

History:
27 year old male with 14 years of weight lifting experience was attempting to squat approximately 405 pounds using a Smith Machine. He had never performed the squat maneuver using the Smith Machine prior to his injury He states that he was on his 3rd rep of his 1st set when he had reached the low point of the squat and was beginning the upward phase when he felt his legs become weak and buckle at which time he fell to the ground. The bar was caught by the self-spotting device on the machine. He immediately began to have severe low back pain and inability to move his legs. He was not using a spotter

Physical Exam:
71 inch tall 142 lb male. Muscle strength testing on admission was 5/5 in the bilateral upper extremities, bilateral lower extremities; hip flexors 0/5 left, 1/5 right; quadriceps 0/5 left, 1/5 right; tibialis anterior 0/5 left, 1/5 right; extensor hallucis longus 0/5 left, 1/5 right; and gastrocnemius, 0/5 left, 1/5 right. Sensation to light touch and pinprick was altered in a patchy distribution below the level of L1 bilaterally. Foley was in place. Patient did not exhibit rectal tone or sensation

Click here to continue. Challenge yourself by writing down a broad differential diagnosis before moving to the next slide.


NOTE: For more information, please contact the AMSSM, 4000 W. 114th Street, Suite 100, Leawood, KS 66211 (913) 327-1415.
 

© The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine
4000 W. 114th Street, Suite 100
Leawood, KS 66211
Phone: 913.327.1415


Website created by the computer geek