Health · Fitness & Nutrition · 2 hrs ago
Upper lumbar spine problems may cause runners’ hip and knee pain
Some runners’ hip and knee pain may start in the upper lumbar spine, rather than in the painful part of the leg.
The upper lumbar region includes the L1, L2 and L3 segments of the spine, and irritation there can refer pain to the leg.
This pain can affect the front or inner thigh, hip and knee, and may come with tingling, numbness, weakness or a feeling of instability.
Lower lumbar problems more often cause pain that travels down the back of the thigh and may extend to the lower leg or foot.
Upper lumbar problems can be hard to spot because the back itself may have little or no pain.
The piece says this possibility is worth considering when severe, sudden pain is not explained by training and does not respond to standard orthopedic care.
Some runners’ hip, knee and anterior thigh pain may originate in the upper lumbar spine rather than the leg.
The article identifies nerves associated with the L1, L2 and L3 vertebrae as a possible source of referred pain.
Upper lumbar problems can cause pain, tingling, numbness, weakness or a sense of instability in parts of the leg.
The source may be difficult to identify because the lower back itself often is not painful.
The article says severe, unexplained pain that does not respond to standard orthopedic care may warrant considering an upper lumbar cause.
- Who
- Runners experiencing hip, knee or anterior thigh pain.
- What
- The article discusses how problems in the upper lumbar spine may cause referred pain and weakness in the hip or leg.
- When
- Not stated.
- Where
- The upper lumbar spine, involving the L1, L2 and L3 vertebrae.
- Why
- Irritation or dysfunction in the upper lumbar region can affect nerves serving parts of the hip and leg.
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- Vertebrae
- L1, L2 and L3
- Possible pain areas
- Front and inner thigh; front, back and outer hip; front, outer and back of the knee
- Possible symptoms
- Pain, tingling, numbness, weakness and instability
- Lower lumbar comparison
- L4, L5 and the S1 segment of the sacrum
Sources
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