Acute Low Back PainSymptomatic Treatment with a Muscle Relaxant Drug

摘要

The aim of this work was to evaluate in a double-blind controlled study the effect of a pure muscle relaxant drug (dantrolene sodium) in the symptomatic treatment of uncomplicated acute low back pain in 20 patients. The one capsule daily dosage (25 mg) was given for 4 days. Patients treated with dantrolene sodium obtained an improvement of muscle contracture (p 0.001 versus placebo). VAS pain measurement, and pain behavior (both p 0.001 versus placebo). The electromyogram (EMG) parameters (i.e., the antalgic reflex motor unit firing) improved in the treated group (p 0.01 versus placebo). Data show the possibility of treating uncomplicated acute low back pain with a pure muscle relaxant. Some basic physiopathological aspects of low back pain are also discussed.