Lower limb strength test

There are many methods for checking lower limb muscle strength. You can use thoracic spine X-ray examination or CT examination. The main purpose is to check the condition of the lower limb spinal canal. Thoracic spine stenosis can easily cause lower limb weakness and chest tightness symptoms, and the obstruction of lower limb muscle strength can also affect blood circulation. We should listen to the doctor's advice and do a good job of the examination.

Examination items for abnormal sensation, muscle strength, and nerve function in the lower limbs

Abnormal sensation, muscle strength, and nerves in the lower limbs often occur in thoracic spinal stenosis. The main clinical manifestations of the disease are a series of syndromes caused by incomplete compression of the thoracic spinal cord, abnormal blood supply circulation of the thoracic spinal cord, and abnormal sensation, muscle strength, and nerves in the lower limbs. Thoracic spinal stenosis refers to a disease in which the thoracic spinal cord and nerve roots are compressed due to congenital or acquired degenerative factors, leading to corresponding clinical symptoms and signs.

The pressure-generating object causes disorders of blood supply, circulation, sensation and motor conduction in the thoracic spinal cord. There are many mechanisms that cause thoracic spinal stenosis, including congenital: spinal canal dysplasia, pedicle shortening; hereditary bone metabolism abnormalities such as Paget's disease; and Vitamin D-resistant bone disease. There are also acquired ones: nephrotic bone metabolism disorders and fluorosis. The most common clinical cause is strain.

Check items:

1. Thoracic spine X-ray examination

Plain X-rays may show degenerative signs of varying degrees and sizes. Sometimes the posterior joint space and lamina space are blurred and the density increases. The lateral view shows hypertrophic and hypertrophic articular processes protruding into the spinal canal, which is an important basis for diagnosing this disease.

2. CT examination

CT examination can clearly show the degree of thoracic spinal canal stenosis and changes in the walls of the spinal canal. Hyperplasia of the posterior vertebral wall, ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament, shortening of the pedicle, thickening of the vertebral lamina, thickening and ossification of the yellow ligament, etc. can all reduce the sagittal diameter of the spinal canal; thickening and cohesion of the pedicle shortens the transverse diameter; hyperplasia and hypertrophy of the posterior articular process and thickening and ossification of the joint capsule make the spinal canal triangular or clover-shaped.

3. MRI

MRI can not only evaluate changes after spinal cord compression, but also exclude compression caused by other intramedullary and extramedullary lesions such as tumors and inflammation.