Back strain is the injury occurring to muscles or

tendons A tendon or sinew is a tough, high-tensile-strength band of dense fibrous connective tissue that connects muscle to bone. It is able to transmit the mechanical forces of muscle contraction to the skeletal system without sacrificing its ability ...

. Due to back strain, the tendons and muscles supporting the spine are twisted or pulled. Chronic back strain occurs because of the sustained trauma and wearing out of the back muscles. Acute back strain can occur following a single instance of over stressing of back muscles, as in lifting a heavy object. Chronic back strain is more common than the acute type. To avoid back strain it is important to bend the knees whenever you lift a heavy object – see partial squats.

Signs and symptoms

The pain over the back is localized and does not radiate into the leg. It occurs suddenly and may be accompanied by muscle spasms. The pain is dull, aching type and decreases on rest. It may be aggravated with activity.

Cause

Back strain occurs more in women than men and is more common after pregnancy. Lean people, those standing for long hours and those doing sedentary work in bad posture are prone to back strain. Back strain is also more common in people with excessive curving of the back, weak muscles (as in

muscular dystrophies Muscular dystrophies (MD) are a genetically and clinically heterogeneous group of rare neuromuscular diseases that cause progressive weakness and breakdown of skeletal muscles over time. The disorders differ as to which muscles are primarily affe ...

) and tight thigh muscles. People who play sports involving lifting heavy weights, pushing and pulling are also prone to back strain.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of mild back strain can be made with a medical history and physical examination. In case of more severe strains, an

X-ray An X-ray, or, much less commonly, X-radiation, is a penetrating form of high-energy electromagnetic radiation. Most X-rays have a wavelength ranging from 10 picometers to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30&nb ...

should be taken to rule out

fracture Fracture is the separation of an object or material into two or more pieces under the action of stress. The fracture of a solid usually occurs due to the development of certain displacement discontinuity surfaces within the solid. If a displa ...

and

disc herniation Spinal disc herniation is an injury to the cushioning and connective tissue between vertebrae, usually caused by excessive strain or trauma to the spine. It may result in back pain, pain or sensation in different parts of the body, and physical ...

Treatment

Back strain is treated using analgesics such as ibuprofen, rest and use of

ice pack An ice pack or gel pack is a portable bag filled with water, refrigerant gel, or liquid, meant to provide cooling. They can be divided into the reusable type, which works as a thermal mass and requires freezing, or the instant type, which cools ...

s. The patient can resume activities 24–48 hours after pain and swelling is reduced. It is not recommended to have prolonged immobilization or bed rest. If the pain does not subside in two weeks, additional treatment may be required. Prevention of back strain is possible by adopting proper body mechanics while sitting, standing and lifting. Cessation of smoking, maintaining a healthy diet, exercise and normal weight is also good for preventing back strain. Temporary pain relief may be achieved through application of a menthol-based pain relief cream.

References

{{reflist Orthopedic problems Human back Pain