3 Best Treatments for Pulled Muscles In Lower Back
- Ice for first 48-72 Hours Apply ice packs for 15 to 20 minutes, every couple of hours, to the area of injury for the first 48-72 hours. ...
- Self Massage Therapy Massage therapy can help to increase blood flow to the lower back, which helps to promote healing. ...
- Light Exercises And/Or Dynamic Stretches For Low Back
How to heal a pulled muscle in your lower back?
Apply cold. Cold helps reduce inflammation, which is the primary source of pain in the first few days. The faster you can apply cold to a pulled back muscle, the faster you may reduce pain, help control swelling, and start the healing process. Apply a cold pack for 15-20 minutes as soon as the injury occurs.
What is the best remedy for pulled back muscle?
Dec 03, 2021 · Lower back pulled muscles tend to heal relatively quickly, with 90% of cases healing within a month. However, treatment may help to alleviate your symptoms and speed up healing. #1. Ice for first 48-72 Hours Apply ice packs for 15 to 20 minutes, every couple of hours, to the area of injury for the first 48-72 hours.
How long for a pulled muscle in lower back to heal?
Most cases of a pulled back muscle are treated using standard self-care or non-invasive treatments. Some typical first-step treatments for a pulled low back muscle include: Anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen reduce inflammation, which often contributes to pain. Anti-inflammatory medicines are available over-the-counter or …
What the best way to treat a pulled back muscle?
Use a Back Brace for Lower Back Pain Using a back brace is another great way to reduce lower back pain. In fact, it is an effective and fast way to reduce strained back pain. The adjustable brace is a great recovery treatment for budging, misalignments, fractures, slipped discs, and strains. 6. Massage Therapy
How long does it take for a pulled back muscle to heal?
Back muscle strains typically heal with time, many within a few days, and most within 3 to 4 weeks. Most patients with mild or moderate lumbar strains make a full recovery and are free of symptoms within days, weeks, or possibly months.
How do you treat a pulled muscle in your lower back?
Treating a Pulled Back Muscle in 8 StepsApply cold. Cold helps reduce inflammation, which is the primary source of pain in the first few days. ... Use compression. ... Rest. ... Stretch. ... Pain medication. ... Perform strength exercises. ... Get a massage. ... Apply heat.
Is walking good for lower back pain?
If you have lower back pain, walking may be a particularly good form of exercise to relieve pain, since low-impact activity is less damaging to your joints and helps your body maintain bone density. Physiotherapists may recommend retro walking (walking backward) as well as an effective way to manage back pain.Oct 13, 2021
How do you tell if you pulled a muscle in your lower back?
Symptoms to expect from a pulled lower back muscle—or any type of lower back strain—typically include:Dull, achy low back pain. Strained muscles usually feel sore, tight, or achy. ... Intensified pain with movement. ... Pain that is localized in the low back.
How to treat a pulled back muscle?
Cold helps reduce inflammation, which is the primary source of pain in the first few days. The faster you can apply cold to a pulled back muscle, the faster you may reduce pain, help control swelling , and start the healing process . Apply a cold pack for 15-20 minutes as soon as the injury occurs. Take a break of at least 20 minutes between each ...
How to get rid of lower back strain?
For strains in lower back muscles, treatment might also include light, low-impact exercise to help maintain range of motion and build muscle strength. 3 Walking, cycling, and swimming are some good options for staying active while recovering from lower back muscle strains.
What to do after a muscle strain?
Right after a muscle strain, it is important to limit your activity level and avoid movements that increase pain. After the initial pain subsides, returning to previous level of activity may help prevent the muscles from growing weak. Stretch.
How long does it take for a pulled muscle to heal?
This common injury ranges from a minor inconvenience to an intense source of pain. It can take several weeks, and in some cases a few months, to heal. 1. A pulled muscle is the common term ...
What is the pain in the lower back?
Aching and stiffness in lower back muscles. Pain that worsens with movement. Pain that radiates to the hips and legs. Limited range of motion. Muscle spasms in lower back area. Pain when sitting, standing, or walking.
What causes a pulled muscle in the back?
Causes and Diagnosis of a Pulled Back Muscle. Trauma, stress, and tension may all cause strains and sprains. Some of the most common causes include: Falling, especially if you hit the ground hard or fall in an awkward position. Repetitive movements that stress and irritate the back muscles. Unsafe lifting, lifting while twisting, ...
What is a pulled muscle?
A pulled muscle is the common term for a strained muscle. 2 A strain is a muscle or tendon injury that happens when the tissue stretches or tears. When a ligament stretches or tears, it’s called a sprain. Back pain, often due to a pulled muscle, is one of the most common issues health professionals treat.
How long does it take for a pulled muscle in the lower back to heal?
Lower back pulled muscles tend to heal relatively quickly, with 90% of cases healing within a month. However, treatment may help to alleviate your symptoms and speed up healing. #1. Ice for first 48-72 Hours. Apply ice packs for 15 to 20 minutes, every couple of hours, to the area of injury for the first 48-72 hours.
How to heal a tight back muscle?
Self Massage Therapy. Massage therapy can help to increase blood flow to the lower back, which helps to promote healing. [5] . It also helps to loosen up tightened lower back muscles, which might be caused from those muscle spasms.
What is pulled muscle?
Pulled muscles can be classified as either: Strains (more common) – A tendon or a muscle that is stretched or torn. Strains are typically caused by an overload and stretching of the muscle and tendon that results in a partial or complete tear. Sprains – A ligament that is torn or stretched.
How to get rid of a swollen back?
Begin by kneeling on all fours with your hands positioned under your shoulders and your knees positioned directly below your hips. Exhale and arch your spine gently. Inhale and tighten your core muscle while you round your back. Aim for 10 repetitions.
What does it feel like to pull a muscle in your lower back?
If you pull a muscle in your lower back you may experience a range of symptoms from a dull, nagging ache, to debilitating pain, including: If you pull a muscle in your lower back you may experience varying intensities of pain, from a dull, nagging ache, to sharp pain. [2]
What is the best exercise for low back pain?
Exercise #3: Glute Bridge. This exercise is meant to activate your glutes, quads and core area. The idea is to use the muscles around your low back to send a signal to the brain that your muscles are in fact working fine, and thus your low back muscles can finally relax. Be gentle with this one and do it very slowly.
How to do a squat on your back?
How to perform it: Begin lying on your back on the floor with your knees bent and feet positioned flat on the floor with your arms positioned beside your torso. Use your heels to push into the floor while you lift your pelvis off the floor until your upper body and thighs are positioned in a straight line.
What is the best treatment for a pulled back muscle?
Some typical first-step treatments for a pulled low back muscle include: Anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen reduce inflammation, which often contributes to pain. Anti-inflammatory medicines are available ...
How to treat a pulled back muscle?
Most cases of a pulled back muscle are treated using standard self-care or non-invasive treatments. Some typical first-step treatments for a pulled low back muscle include: 1 Anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen reduce inflammation, which often contributes to pain. Anti-inflammatory medicines are available over-the-counter or with a prescription.#N#See NSAIDs: Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs 2 Over-the-counter pain medicines, such as acetaminophen, minimize pain by interfering with the way the brain interprets pain signals. Acetaminophen may also be included as an active ingredient in prescription medications, such as in combination with an opioid. 3 Muscle relaxants may be prescribed on a short-term basis to reduce muscle spasm. Most muscle relaxants do not affect muscles directly, but rather dampen pain receptors in the central nervous system. These medications have many side effects, and muscle relaxants also carry risk of addiction. 4 #N#See Muscle Relaxants: List of Common Muscle Relaxers#N# 5 Ice packs reduce inflammation that can occur shortly after a muscle is injured. Typical recommendations include applying a cold or ice pack for 10 - 20 minutes at regular intervals throughout the day, and using a towel or other barrier between the ice and the skin to prevent an ice burn.
How does massage help with back pain?
Massage therapy also releases endorphins, which lessen pain signals in the nervous system. Neuromuscular massage is considered especially helpful for low back muscle pain.
How to prevent back pain from flare ups?
Keeping the low back muscles active through stretching and strengthening exercises can help reduce overall pain levels and prevent future flare-ups from occurring.
How to help lower back pain?
See Exercise Walking for Better Back Health. Activity modification, such as avoiding strenuous activity or heavy lifting when low back pain is intense, can help prevent worsening a muscle injury and low back pain.
Does acetaminophen help with pain?
Over-the-counter pain medicines, such as acetaminophen, minimize pain by interfering with the way the brain interprets pain signals. Acetaminophen may also be included as an active ingredient in prescription medications, such as in combination with an opioid.
Should you avoid aggressive chiropractic manipulation?
Aggressive chiropractic manipulation should be avoided at the onset of treatment . It is best to restore health in a very gradual and dedicated process, watching for worsening symptoms versus improvement. Ultimately, the severity of a muscle injury will determine what kind of treatment is necessary.
7 Simple Ways to Treat a Strained Back Muscle
If you have ever sprained your back muscles, you probably know the answer to “what does a pulled back muscle feel like”?
What is Muscle Strain?
As mentioned earlier, strain is typically an injury to either your tendon or muscles. Tendons are solid fibrous bands of thick tissues that connect muscles to bones. When you strain your back, the tendons and muscles supporting the spine are torn, pulled, or twisted.
Causes of a Strained Back Muscle
Sometimes even simply pulling or twisting a tendon or muscles may result in a strained back. That means, even a single instance of overstressing the lower back muscles or improper lifting can cause back strain. If you have a long-term (chronic) strain, it may be the result of repetitive, prolonged muscles and tendon use.
Can You Diagnose Strained Back Muscle?
Medical professionals diagnose mild strains by studying the medical history of the patients. A qualified healthcare provider reviews the symptoms of the patients and the reason for injury— or performs a physical examination.
How to Treat a Strained Back Muscle
In many cases of a sprained back or pulled back muscle, doctors use non-invasive and standard self-care treatments. Here are some first-step strained upper back muscle treatment options to effectively reduce pain.
Summing Up
All in all, regardless of the reason you develop muscle strain, it is a painful condition and may worsen if not treated on time. The abovementioned seven ways can help you reduce the pain and heal muscles faster.
How to help a person with a pulled back?
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, after a person pulls their lower back, they should: apply an ice pack for the first few days for 15–20 minutes, multiple times a day, to reduce any swelling.
How to help lower back pain?
Yoga may also help relieve pain and strengthen the back. According to a 2016 systematic review. , yoga may be an effective treatment option for chronic lower back pain. By strengthening the back and improving flexibility, this practice may help prevent a person from pulling the muscles in the lower back.
What causes a pulled lumbar muscle?
What can cause a pulled lumbar muscle? Overstretching or tearing ligaments, which are bands of tissue that hold the vertebrae of the spine in place, can cause a sprain. A strain is a tear in either a muscle itself or one of the tendons that attach the muscles to the spinal column.
What kind of scan is needed for lumbar strain?
If they need to do further tests to examine the cause of the lumbar strain, the doctor may request: an X-ray. a CT scan. an MRI scan. They might also order an electromyogram to examine the muscle and nerve function or a radionuclide bone scan to look at the blood flow to the bone, as well as cell activity.
Why does my lower back hurt?
Other causes of lower back pain. According to the AANS, a pulled muscle is the most common cause of lower back pain. However, this symptom has other possible causes. If the pain is on the right side of the back, it may be due to appendicitis.
How long does it take to recover from a sprain?
Most lower back strains and sprains should recover in 2 weeks, and according to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), more than 90% of people recover fully in 1 month. A person should avoid vigorous exercise for 8 weeks to reduce the risk of damaging the back further.
How to do a squat on the back?
Lie on the back with a flat cushion under the head. Bend the knees, keeping the feet straight and hip-width apart. Keep the upper body relaxed with the chin tucked in. Slowly flatten the lower back into the floor and lift the tailbone. Slowly perform the reverse movement, tilting the pelvis toward the heels.
How to treat a pulled lower back muscle?
Here are the five most important steps you can take now to help your body recover quickly from and treat a pulled back muscle: 1. Apply cold to the pulled back muscle. You should apply ice to your injury as soon as possible . The sooner you apply the ice the more it will help.
How to get rid of a pulled muscle in the lower back?
Stretching and strengthening exercises. You’ll want to be very careful your first couple of days, but some light stretching can often reduce pain from a pulled muscle in your lower back by relieving tension. Include both strengthening and stretching exercises. Try this easy stretch while lying in bed.
What to do when your back hurts?
When your back hurts, you probably reach for a bottle of painkillers such as NSAIDs and get in bed or crash on the couch. Or you go to the doctor, who may prescribe muscle relaxants. I’m not a fan of Big Pharma’s pills. For one, both NSAIDs and muscle relaxants come with side effects.
How long does it take for a pulled muscle in your back to heal?
The good news is you definitely won’t need surgery. Pulled muscles in the back (whether it’s a strain or sprain) usually heal within days or weeks on their own.
What to do when you pull a muscle?
Key takeaway #4: You can speed up recovery and reduce pain with a few simple at-home remedies: cold and heat therapy, natural anti-inflammatories, rest and stretching.
How to stop back pain from recurring?
You may be able to prevent new or recurring back pain with simple techniques such as massage and meditation . Studies show that massage is an effective way to reduce stress and relax tightened muscles.
How to get a pulled back muscle out of your back?
Apply heat to the pulled back muscle. Try applying heat directly to the area that is strained or sprained right after the ice. This is a powerful way to “double-shock” your back muscles out of the pain-spasm cycle. Apply 20 minutes of ice followed by 20 minutes of heat and repeat up to three times.
What is pulled muscle?
Jason DelCollo, DO, is board-certified in family medicine and on the faculty of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. A muscle strain, also called a pulled muscle, occurs when a muscle is stretched too far, and microscopic tears occur within the muscle fibers.
How to heal muscle strain?
Most muscle strain injuries will heal with simple treatment steps, but performing the right steps, at the right time, can be critical to ensuring the fastest possible recovery. As with many injuries, there is a balance between doing too much, or too little, early after the injury.
What are the symptoms of muscle strain?
The usual symptoms of this type of injury include pain, spasm of the muscle, swelling, bruising, and limited mobility. Often an athlete will feel a sudden grabbing or tearing sensation in the muscle, and then be unable to continue their activities. Muscle strain injuries are graded by severity: 1 .
What is the best way to prevent muscle strain?
Gentle Stretching. Stretching and strengthening are useful in the treatment and prevention of muscle strain injuries. Muscles that are stronger and more flexible are less likely to be injured.
How long should you ice a muscle pull?
Ice applications can be done frequently, but should not be done for more than 15 minutes at a time. 3 . How to Ice an Injury the Right Way.
What happens after a muscle injury?
After injuring the muscle, it is important to regain strength before returning to athletic activities. Both the injury itself and the rest period following the injury can reduce the strength of the muscle. Stronger muscles are less likely to sustain a re-injury.
Why is it important to use caution when a muscle is fatigued?
6 . Athletes should use caution, especially as they become fatigued, as the muscle becomes more susceptible to strain injuries.
