Back Muscle Pain

By: Roger Thompson



There are numerous causes for back muscle pain. Anything from a simple sprain to a herniated disk can be uncomfortable with muscle spasm in the lower back often presenting pain so severe that sufferers cannot walk or stand up straight. In some cases,people with a disk slip or even with degenerative spine disease may feel little or no pain.

Muscle strength and flexibility are important to reduce back muscle pain and regular exercise can keep them from becoming stiff. It is this stiffness that causes back muscle pain, when abnormal movements are made . By understanding working of the muscles in the back and preventive measures to avoid back injury, can help to make muscles strong enough to avoid pain.

The extensor muscles are attached to the back of the spine and help in standing straight along with lifting. The flexor muscles, attached to the front of the spine, aid in bending, lifting and in arching the back. The oblique muscles on the side of the spine help with rotation and having correct posture. If any one of these muscles is stressed or pulled due to wrong movements, will cause back muscle pain and potentially, subsequent muscle spasms.

Unless properly conditioned, these muscle groups will grow weak with age and lack of use and intense therapy may be needed to put an to back muscle pain. By working the muscles properly on a consistent basis, they can be strengthened, helping the spine remain straight and pain free. When a person suffers from back pain, the usual reaction is to not use the muscles, since it hurts. This will cause them to weaken and be unable to support the spine in a neutral position.

Additionally, back muscle pain lasting more than two weeks and not using them can lead to muscle atrophy, or stiffening, which will result in muscle weakening causing more pain to other muscles that have to work harder to maintain the spine in an upright position. Stress can also lead to back pain as when a person is under stress, the back muscles tighten.

While the first few days of a back spasm are usually the worst, the pain will subside in a few days. Muscle relaxers may be prescribed to help ease the pain.Once the spasm relaxes, the muscles need to be exercised to rebuild their strength.

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