Back strain is probably the most common form of acute back pain. It affects the muscles and their tendons which attach them to various structures in the back. In general, muscle strain refers to a small tear in the muscle or its tendon. Most muscle strains tend to develop in the lower back area where the muscle changes into the tendon, but they can develop anywhere.

SymptomsA strain of the back muscles mostly causes localized pain in the area of the muscle/tendon injury accompanied by stiffness, limited range of motion and difficulties maintaining straight posture. Timing is very important when it comes to muscle strain. Most muscle strains usually happen while lifting something very heavy or doing a sudden movement. Many individuals experiencing back pain due to muscle strain may feel a popping sensation at the moment of the injury which usually prompts them to seek medical attention. They may have difficulties straightening their back up after the onset of the pain and usually maintain a semi bent position to avoid severe pain. That is not to say that muscle strain cannot come gradually. Even in this case, however, the individual can usually remember the moment when he felt sudden uncomfortable pain in the back which became progressively worse with activities.

Most individuals will also complain of muscle cramps in the area of their lower back. Additionally, coughing and sneezing usually brings on bouts of severe pain during acute back strain. The back muscles which tend to be the most affected by muscle strain are those right next to the spine. Frequently, however, the pain can also be felt around the base of the spine and in the buttock area. Occasionally, pain may radiate into the buttocks. Under normal circumstances, pain due to back strain does not radiate down to the legs. Pain radiating down to the legs is usually associated with nerve compression, but it is also frequently seen as a result of trigger points in the gluteal (buttock) muscles.  Back strain is not a serious condition and most individuals with acute back strain recover spontaneously within 1 to 2 weeks.

CausesWhen muscle strain is caused by a sudden movement, it is generally a result of preexisting tightness in the back muscles which has developed over a period of time. Tight muscles are less flexible. Decreased flexibility results in limited ability to respond to sudden demands for muscle extension beyond the normal daily activity. Therefore when the muscle is required to suddenly extend beyond its limits, such as when catching a falling object or catching ourselves from falling down, a strain can develop in the muscle or the tendon. To prevent further injury, the body triggers protective mechanism which manifests as muscle spasm. The final outcome is stiffness and significantly limited range of motion with great amount of pain when trying to move in any direction.

Back strain can, however, develop also due to muscle overuse. In this case, the muscles and/or their tendons become strained due to repetitive movements in absence of sufficient time for recovery and repair. Activities involving excessive forward bending of the spine constitute one of the most common misuses of the back leading to increased vulnerability to a variety of injuries. The forward bend position stretches the muscles and tendons of the back to a point where very little control can be exercised over the spine’s position. Therefore lifting objects in forward bend positions can easily strain these muscles and their tendons. Additionally, forward bend position creates an uneven pressure on the spinal discs making them significantly more prone to injury. Poor posturePoor posture is one of the main underlying causes for the development of back strain. It generally refers to either too large or too small curvature in the area of the lower back. Over a period of time, poor posture leads to muscle imbalance and strain of the muscles/tendons in the back. Spending extensive period of time in uneven position such as being twisted sideways or bent forward, also puts great stress on the spinal discs predisposing them to injury. Poor physical fitness poor physical fitness, excessive weight, sedentary lifestyle and lack of flexibility are also among the leading factors predisposing individuals to back strain. The result is poorly conditioned back muscles that lack sufficient strength and endurance to respond to increased physical demand when called upon. This is why sudden unexpected movement, or performance of new repetitive task requiring the use of back muscles, easily result in back strain. More information is available on this page.

Main SymptomsSudden onsetLocalized pain  & stiffnessLimited range of motionDifficulties maintaining straight postureMuscle cramp in the area of the lower back

CausesSudden movementTight muscles and lack of flexibilityMuscle overuseActivities involving excessive forward bending of the spineLifting objects in forward bend positionPoor postureWorking in uneven position - twisted sideways or bent forwardPoor physical fitness,Excessive weightSedentary lifestyle