Muscle spasms in the back can be caused by injury, poor posture, or overuse. Symptoms range from mild cramping to sharp pain and treatment depends on the cause and severity of the injury, including heat therapy, rest, and physical therapy. Stretching and proper posture can help prevent future injuries.
When the back muscles are twisted into unnatural positions, strained, or suddenly twisted, muscle spasms often occur. Tension in the back muscles from poor posture or improper lifting of heavy objects can also cause spasms. Muscle spasms are a leading cause of back pain and the types of pain they cause depend on the severity of the injury. How back pain and muscle spasms are treated varies according to the severity of the pain and the degree of muscle stiffness the patient is experiencing.
Muscle spasms are usually caused by an injury to the back muscles. Sudden movements or overloading of the back muscles force them to contract involuntarily. Muscles that are tight or tense for an extended period of time are also prone to involuntary contractions. This tension is the basis for back pain and muscle spasms. As a result, they can be caused by a wide range of daily activities ranging from coughing to moving heavy boxes.
People have different thresholds for back pain. The physical symptoms associated with back muscle spasms range from mild cramping sensations to sharp, disabling pain. Most pain occurs suddenly and lasts for several minutes at a time, although some back muscle spasms last for hours.
Treatment for back pain and muscle spasms depends on how the initial injury to the muscle occurred and whether or not the patient can physically rehabilitate the muscle on their own or will need a doctor’s assistance. Injuries from improper movement or overuse are the easiest to treat because the cause of the muscle spasms has already occurred. Most healthcare providers will apply some form of heat therapy, rest, and gentle range-of-motion exercises to ease the discomfort. If tightness in your muscles is the cause of your back spasms, relief will take longer because the underlying muscle stiffness needs to be addressed through physical therapy sessions. A doctor may also prescribe muscle relaxants to mitigate physical symptoms.
Stretching can sometimes help prevent muscle injuries from occurring. People should also maintain an upright posture to help the back muscles remain limber and flexible. Using proper lifting techniques and the use of back supports limit the strain on the back muscles and often avoid back pain and muscle spasms.
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