Muscular Back Pain

There are a number of muscles in the back. Active people such as those who play sports and weightlifters can suffer pain and injuries in both their upper and lower back. Pain in the back can range from mild to severe. Treatment varies according to the severity of the injury.

Muscles In The Back

• Major muscles in the back include the latissimus dorsi (lats), which gives the back its width, trapezius and rhomboids, which are located below the trapezius muscle. There are also smaller muscle groups between the deltoids and lats. External obliques are the major muscle group in the lower back. And erector spinae muscles run along the spine from the lower to the middle part of the back. Some muscles, such as the rhomboid, have less blood flowing to them and, consequently, can take longer to heal if strained or otherwise injured.

Types of Back Injuries & Pain

• Back strain is the most common type of muscular back injury. Back strains can cause pain in the lower and the upper back. Back strains occur when muscle fibers are stretched or torn. You can suffer this type of injury by lifting something too heavy or falling or even while sitting in an awkward position. People over 50 are particularly prone to back strain. Muscles in the back tighten with age.

  Another back-muscle injury is a sprain. This injury occurs when ligaments are stretched or torn. Back sprains are more common in the lower back.

Upper & Middle Back Pain

• Injury to the lats is a common upper back injury. Hanging from monkey bars or pulling yourself up can cause a strained latissimus dorsi muscle. You might also strain your rhomboid muscle or the lower part of your trapezius. These muscles can be strained by whiplash injuries or from carrying heavy bags.

  Anyone can strain a middle-back muscle. This type of injury often occurs near the spine. Nerves constantly send impulses to the brain. Often, it is hard to pinpoint the exact location of muscle pain because of the overactivity of nerve endings.

Lower Back Pain

• The normal curvature of the spine in the lower back serves as a shock absorber. But this curvature can make a person prone to hyperextended back injuries. This happens when the lower back is bent inward from a fall or if you get shoved from behind. It causes pain in the external obliques.

  The lower back is also highly susceptible to strains and sprains. Strains can occur from when the back gets stretched from an awkward angle. According to the Dr. Mark Darrow, "damage to ligaments is estimated to be responsible for up to 70% of all cases of lower back pain."

Prevention & Treatment

• A lot of back pain can be avoided if people would regularly stretch their back muscles. Floor exercises, such as pushing the back to the floor while lying on a hard surface and pulling the knees to the chest, can keep the lower back flexible. Grabbing the top of a door or a bar with the arms extended can stretch the lats. Building adjacent muscle groups such as the abdomen and the buttocks can help prevent muscular injuries. Ice is usually recommended within the first 48 hours for muscular back pain. Heat can be used once the initial swelling goes down.