Back Muscle Strain

Back muscles

A back muscle strain is a tear of any of the muscles in the back. They most often occur in the lower back. Here we explain how to treat a muscle strain in the back.

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We recommend seeking professional advice before attempting self-help.

Pulled back muscle symptoms

We grade muscle strains 1, 2 or 3 depending on how bad the injury is:

Grade 1 mild

Grade 1 injuries have tightness in the back. The patient may be able to walk properly and will not have much swelling.

Grade 2 moderate

Grade 2 back muscle strains will probably result in the patient being unable to walk properly. They may get occasional sudden twinges of pain during activity and may notice some swelling. Pressing in over the site of injury will be painful.

Grade 3 severe back muscle strain

Grade 3 injuries will result in the patient being unable to walk properly. They will be in severe pain and significant swelling will appear immediately.

Contracting the back muscles will be painful and might produce a bulge in the muscle. The patient can expect to be out of competition for 3 to twelve weeks or more.

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What is a back muscle strain?

Muscle strains or ruptures can occur in the back just like they can anywhere else in the body. Sudden movement or lifting something that is too heavy usually causes back muscle strain.

Low back pain, however, often a long time to come on as the muscles in the back gradually tighten up due to bad posture and overuse. As a result, these muscles go into spasms and do not get enough blood through them causing weakness.

So when someone complains of low back pain when they bend down to pick up a piece of paper and tear a muscle in the back, it is not just the piece of paper that caused it but a gradual build-up of tension over weeks and months.

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Treatment

If you have suffered a direct blow to a muscle, particularly one near a bone then you must treat it as a contusion.

Grade 1 treatment

Grade 1 back muscle strains should be actively rested. For example, ease down training for a week or two but no need to stop unless there is pain. If you are aware at the time of injury then apply ice or cold therapy for the first 24 hours to ease pain and

Change activities to those which do not cause pain. Running is likely to aggravate back muscle strain. Use a heat retainer or back brace until you feel no pain. See a sports injury professional or therapist who specializes in back problems.

A sports injury therapist or back specialist may use sports massage techniques to speed up recovery as can ultrasound therapy and electrical stimulation.

Kinesiology tape helps activate muscles and support the lower back. An osteopath or chiropractor specializes in joint manipulation techniques which can help.

Grade 2 treatment

Treatment of grade 2 back muscle strains involves rest from all activities. Apply ice or cold therapy in the acute stage with is usually the first 24 to 48 hours.

Ice can be applied for 10 to 15 minutes every hour if not directly to the skin. Use a wet tea towel or commercially available cold wrap. See a sports injury professional for rehabilitation advice.

A professional therapist will use sports massage, and joint mobilization and manipulation to help speed up the recovery process. A full rehabilitation program including mobility exercises, core strengthening exercises or pilates

Grade 3 treatment

If a grade 3 or severe back muscle strain is suspected then apply ice or cold therapy and seek medical attention immediately. A period of complete rest, possibly bed rest may be required.

After the acute stage, the therapist may apply sports massage, joint manipulation, ultrasound, and electrical stimulation as well as prescribe a full back rehabilitation program. If the injury is particularly severe then a surgeon will operate to repair the torn muscle.

It is particularly important that all back muscle strains are fully rehabilitated with professional advice as longer-term problems from muscle imbalance can result.

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