The Lumbodorsal Fascia as a Potential Source of Low Back Pain: A Narrative Review

Figure 1

The current literature supports a potential nociceptive function of LF in the aetiology of low back pain. This graph represents two of several possible scenarios in respective cases of fascia generated low back pain. (1) Microinjuries and/or inflammation and resulting irritation of nociceptive nerve endings in lumbar fascia may directly induce back pain, accompanied with a sensitization of fascial nociceptors. In a second pathway (2) tissue deformation due to injury and/or immobility may impair proprioceptive signalling. This induces a sensitization of fascial nociceptors wide, which then alters the functioning of related polymodal neurons in the spinal cord to respond more strongly to potential nociceptive signalling, even to gentle stimulation. Combinations of both pathways are of course also possible. Figure partially based on Langevin & Sherman [25].