Lower back muscle strain

Some episodes of lower back pain can be caused by a strain or tear to the muscles of the lower back. Muscles strain popularly called “pulled muscle” occurs when the tissues are over stretched or torn. When this happens, the area around the muscles will usually become inflamed which could result in painful back spasm that can cause both severe lower back pain and difficulty moving.

Common Causes

Muscle strain usually occurs due to fatigue, overuse, or improper use of a muscle. In the lower back the most common cause is lifting a heavy object using the wrong technique such as bending forward to lift or lifting and twisting at the same time. Other causes of muscle strains include repetitive movement as seen in playing golf or tennis, sudden impact or jarring motion as seen in accidents, having a fall, holding your back in an awkward position for long periods of time, such as when you work at a desk, poor posture and not warming up properly before physical activity.

Symptoms

Typical Symptoms includes a sudden onset of pain which could range from mild to debilitating.  Pain is usuallylocalized in the lower back meaning it doesn’t radiate into the legs like Sciatica. The lower back may feel sore to touch, stiff and knotty due to the accompanying spasm.Depending on the severity , there could be gross limitation in the range of motion in the back. Patients find standing or walking difficult and feel better when resting.

Treatment

Typical first line treatments include a combination of ice pack, rest, anti inflammatory drugs and gentle massages. Heat can be substituted for ice after the initial 72 hours and bed rest must not be longer than 2 days .Most cases of muscle strain will resolve within a few days and the patient gradually able to return to full activities. However if an episode of low back pain lasts for more than two weeks, the muscles may start to weaken. Because using the lower back muscles is painful, the natural tendency for most patients is to avoid using them. However, lack of activity leads to muscle wasting and subsequent weakening, which in turn causes more low back pain because the muscles are less able to help hold up the spine. For drawn out episodes you will need your Physiotherapist to draw up a complete programme of exercises for the low back.

As a general rule, people who are active and well-conditioned are much less likely to suffer from low back pain due to muscle strain, as regular exercise stretches and strengthens the muscles so they are less likely to strain, tear, or spasm.  Also, to avoid straining your backs everyone should make an attempt at lifting correctly all the time.  To lift correctly you should bend your hips and knees to squat down to your load, keep it close to your body, and straighten your legs to lift. Never bend forward to lift a load and never lift a heavy load above the shoulder level. Most importantly avoid turning or twisting your body while lifting or holding.

Nkiru Jibuaku, is a British trained Physiotherapist. She currently works as a Senior Physiotherapist in Lagos and can be reached on [email protected]