GeneralSymptoms of Pulled Back Muscles

Back pain is one of the most common and most annoying injuries you could suffer. Whether you’re an athlete who got injured or were sitting at the office chair too much, back pain can occur without any notice.

Particularly when it comes to a pulled muscle.

Let’s take a look at the causes of a pulled back muscle, some of the key symptoms, and the best course of treatment you can take for it.

Your Complete Guide to Pulled Back Muscles

What are the Causes of a Pulled Back Muscle?

There are many reasons why any person can pull their back muscles.

Firstly, it’s important to know the difference between a pulled muscle (also known as a strain) and a sprain.

The Cleveland Clinic provides the best explanation, saying that: “A back strain is an injury to either a muscle or tendon, while a back sprain is the stretching or tearing of a ligament.”

Now that we know the difference let’s focus on what causes strains, thus helping you prevent it from occurring in the first place. Let’s take a look at a few main reasons:

• Heavy lifting, whether it be weights or just everyday items, can pull your back muscle out of place
• Sudden impact, such as being hit forcefully by an object or a person. This mostly occurs during sport
• Repetitive motions, including rowing, golfing or baseball, may cause strain due to consistent, forceful motions. Eventually, you wear down the muscle, which causes the pain
• Poor Posture, particularly for those sitting down all day, can cause weak abdominal and back muscles, resulting in the back being pulled when you’re suddenly active
• Lack of activity is one of the main culprits of pulled back muscles. The less movement you make, the more likely your muscles will lock up, and become strained
• Being overweight is another cause of pulled back muscles. Excessive weight gain can put a strain on your muscles, causing them to be “pulled” when you get active

What are the Symptoms of a Pulled Back Muscle?

Determining if you have a pulled muscle is possible if you know the symptoms and signs to look out for. Here are some of them:

• Local swelling around the area
• Muscle spasm and cramping (sudden uncontrollable contractions)
• Tenderness when touched or when you move
• Cramping and tightness
• Intense or dull pain that gets worse when you move
• Pain with specific movements (such as getting up or sitting down)
• Decrease function and limited range of motion (this can include walking, bending or standing straight)
• Pain relief in resting positions

What’s the Best Treatment?

There are multiple avenues you can take to recover from your pulled back muscles. Here is the best course of treatment:

1. Rest and reduce the pain – Don’t overexert yourself or do anything that can make the pain get worse. Rest as much as you can and take over-the-pain medications or natural medication to help alleviate the pain for the first 24 to 72 hours.
2. Cold or heat therapy – A mixture of ice and heating packs can alleviate the pain while getting your muscles loose. Apply it to the affected area two to three times a day.
3. Physical or massage therapy – Getting some professional help can streamline your recovery process. Visit your local physiotherapy, who will provide you with some stretching and movement exercises that can loosen and strengthen your back muscles. A massage can also help reduce the tension and stress associated with the injury (https://strivephysiotherapy.ca/).
4. Stay as active as possible – While it might seem counterintuitive, staying active is a big part of the recovery process. Make sure you start gently by walking and slowly increasing the intensity and duration of your activity. This will encourage your muscles to get moving and get stronger.

Prevention is the Best Medicine

Stopping pain before it happens is the best course of action. Here is how you can prevent pulled back muscles:

• Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet that keeps your muscles strong
• Exercise and stretch regularly, as this keeps your joints flexible and muscles strong
• Maintain a healthy weight, as this reduces stress on your body
• Use good “body mechanics” (aka the right movements) when lifting, sitting or standing

We hope this guide helps you recover and prevent any pulled back muscles! Please contact us if you have any questions.

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