Pulled Muscle in Back

A back strain causing frequent episodes of back pain is known as pulled muscle in back. Sports people are commonly at risk of developing pulled back muscle. However, it is not restricted to them only as common man may also suffer from it, on not following the right posture for doing physical activities. In order to determine whether a particular kind of back problem is due to pulled muscle in back, you should know about its identifying features. The common symptoms of pulled muscle are muscle spasm, stiffness or tightness and sharp pain on the strained muscle in the back. This muscle pain may further radiate to surrounding muscles. Pain is generally caused by over-stretching or tearing of the muscle. Several factors lead to pulled muscles in back. Some important and common ones are discussed here.

Causes of Pulled Back Muscle

• Lifting something that is too heavy leads to pulled muscle in lower back
• Lifting objects in a wrong position
• Unexpected bending of back muscle
• Getting muscle strained due to falling down
• Sitting or standing in a wrong posture
• Performing wrong back exercises
• Sudden increase in the intensity or count of back exercises
• Overstretching or tearing of back muscles
• Problems in spinal joins may result in pulled muscle in back

Treatments for Pulled Back Muscle

• Take bed rest for a day or two to stretch out or relax the pulled muscle.
• Place a pillow under your knees so that minimum pressure is exerted on the back while you sleep. This will help in relaxing the strained muscle.
• Apply ice pack on the pulled muscle for about 15 minutes. This will provide comfort and relief from the back pain.
• Gently massage the affected area with warm olive, mustard or coconut oil in circular motion. This will relax the pulled back muscle.
• You may use either cold or hot compress on the back. It depends on your comfort. You may alternate them if you wish.
• Drink plenty of water. This will flush out the acidic byproducts of muscular activity. Otherwise, their accumulation in the muscles may further worsen the condition.
• Take over-the-counter pain killers like Ibuprofen. Take only for one or two tablets in a day. Their over consumption may give rise to other line of problems.
• Apply some topical pain relievers on the affected area to relieve back pain due to pulled muscle.
• Perform some back or torso exercises for back pain relief. This will also relax the pulled back muscle.
• Take a stroll, or swim for short distances. These are the exercises that will provide some relief from pulled muscle.
• Another effective exercise is to lie straight on your back with your legs bent so that the knees touch your chest. Move the legs back and forth. This will gently improve blood circulation in the area.
• Warm up your body well before exercising or playing any sort of sport. Sudden physical stress increase the chances of developing pulled muscle in back.
• Take help of yoga exercises to relax your body, and hence the muscles in the back.

In case, you suffer from recurring pulled muscle in back, you may have weak muscles that support the back. You should work towards strengthening of these muscles. First of all, include some back exercises meant for the same purpose in your exercise regime. In addition to this, follow a healthy diet. Your diet causes a direct impact on the physical state of your body. Therefore, eat healthy to stay healthy. It will still be better if you consult a health care professional so that a proper diagnosis and evaluation of the underlying cause, if any, can be done. Stay fit!