What is a back strain and what causes it?
A back strain or ‘pulled’ muscle in the lower back is a common cause of back pain characterised by stretching/ tearing of a muscle. A back strain can may be caused by a strenuous task like lifting a heavy object in an incorrect manner by bending the back rather than the knees, sharp sudden twisting movements, or even due to standing for long periods of time.
The spine is held upright by muscles and ligaments and the over-stretching or tearing of these muscles can occur if the muscle suddenly contracts or is stretched too far. When a back strain or sprain occurs, there is inflammation of the soft tissue that causes pain and possibly back spasms. Back strains and sprains can also be caused by poor posture, poor muscle tone in the back and abdomen, emotional stress or excessive weight or pregnancy. Often this is “the final straw” after regularly completing activities or tasks with poor movement mechanics.
What are the symptoms/effects of a back strain?
People with a back strain frequently feel pain that can appear either side of the back or in the upper buttocks and can get worse with muscle spasms as they occur.
Diagnosis & Physiotherapy for a back strain
Diagnosis of a back strain can be confirmed through a combination of questioning and a physical assessment. Once a diagnosis has been confirmed it is important that you begin your rehabilitation as soon as possible. Your physiotherapist will tailor your rehabilitation programme to get the best and fastest possible outcome for your recovery.
At Recover Physio, we provide individualised physiotherapy treatment which will facilitate healing, reduce pain and stiffness and return you to work and your hobbies sooner.
Your physiotherapist will initially assess your current symptoms, range of movement, muscle strength and function in order to develop a progressive rehabilitation programme.
Physiotherapy treatment for a muscle strain may include:
- Advice on how to modify your activity to support and protect the muscles and prevent further damage
- Gentle active range of movement exercises to loosen up muscles and reduce pain
- Temperature therapy
- Heat therapy and soft tissue massage to increase circulation and relax muscle spasms
- Progressive and individualised exercise programme for the abdominal or ‘core’ muscles and back muscles to increase strength and stability of the spine.
- Your physiotherapist at Recover Physio will develop a progressive rehabilitation program to ensure you return to activities safely and effectively.
