Back Muscle Pain

Back Muscle Pain Causes

Back muscle pain is most often caused by a muscle injury of some kind: a muscle strain or a ligament sprain.

Of course, there are many reasons muscle strains and ligament sprains occur in the back, but most often, such injuries result from improper lifting, being overweight, or bad posture.

Sometimes, pain from a muscular strain or a ligament sprain will hurt immediately. But this isn't always the case. Pain can come on gradually after a period of time has elapsed.

Injured muscles sometimes also suddenly "knot up" in what's commonly known as a muscle spasm. When this happens in the back, it's called a back spasm.

Back muscle pain is common because there are dozens of muscles, ligaments and tendons helping to hold the back together. Think about it. Your back actually consists of 30 separate bones called vertebrae that must be held together with muscles, ligaments and tendons.

Then there are also large muscles in your back which help with lifting and other functions connected to strength and movement.

The lower back carries most of your weight. The muscles there also provide the power that allows you to turn, twist, or bend. Therefore, the lower back is susceptible to a variety of strains and sprains that result in back muscle pain.

Research studies have revealed that up to 85 percent of adults in the United States suffer muscular back pain at some time during their lives.

Muscular back pain usually isn't serious, but it can be agonizing.

Muscular pain is commonly called myalgia. For a list of many of the most common causes of muscular pain - which sometimes doesn't originate in the muscles themselves - click on muscular pain causes.

There's another type of muscular pain which occurs when muscles become inflamed called myositis. Myositis can occur in tendinous muscle attachments. This condition can be responsible for acute pain and tenderness over the entire muscle. Swelling and limitation of range of motion may also occur. The cause of myositis is often or infection of the muscle.

Most common types of back muscle pain

Muscles consist of cells that are tightly linked together like a chain.

A back muscle strain usually results when a muscle is stretched beyond its functional limits. Some some of the links of the chain break. Stress of this sort can also result in a muscle tear. In either case, muscle tissue is damaged, which is why you feel pain. Many people also call this kind of injury a pulled back muscle.

When ligaments are stretched or torn, it's called a sprain. Ligaments are fibrous tissues that connect the muscles to their attachments. Ligaments are similar to muscles because they're like chains of tough cells that are tightly bound together. When these chains are separated or torn, ligament and/or sprains occur.

Improper lifting, or lifting something that's too heavy, are the most frequent causes of this type of muscular back pain.

Muscle spasms are another source of muscular back pain. A back muscle spasm happens a muscle or muscles in your back contract suddenly and involuntarily. The muscle will feel as if it has knotted up. This is often very painful. At other times, spasms will be mild and cause little discomfort.

Tension and stress often cause muscular back pain. Emotional and psychological tension can cause physical strain in our muscles. Long term stress and tension take their toll on our muscles along with our minds. And remember, tense muscles are more prone to injury.

Finally, poor posture can result in muscular back pain. People who spend hours slouching on a sofa in front of the TV or sitting in the same position front of a computer can stretch or strain muscles. That's why it's important to get up, take a break, and move around every once in a while. This not only takes pressure off muscles, but allows you to relax mentally too.

Avoiding back muscle pain

It's common sense, but it bears repeating: keeping your back muscles toned and strong is your best defense against muscular back pain. Stretching exercises also help keep your back muscles resilient, so they're less susceptible to injury or strain.

Accidents happen, of course, and it's not possible to avoid all risks that may result in injuries and discomfort. But strengthening exercises and regular stretching can certainly help reduce your risks of ever having a problem with muscular back pain.

For more information, click on muscular pain. Also read our article on muscle pain relief.