Anyone who has ever suffered a back spasm knows how incredibly painful it can be. For the period of time while the spasm is happening, most sufferers are rendered almost totally immobile. Taking care of your back by maintaining good posture, good standing, lifting and exercising habits, as well as using practical aids such as a car seat support, are all vital to good back health, but can never entirely ensure that a spasm won’t occur. So what causes a back muscle to spasm and what can a person do to find relief? Here is some information that should help.

There are actually several things that can cause a back muscle to spasm. Common causes might be:

-A sudden push or pull that exerts too much force on the back muscles such as one might obtain playing sports such as football, basketball, golf etc. can cause back muscles to become inflamed or strained and lead to muscle spasms.

-Sports that demand repetitive forces like tennis, squash, handball, etc. can also result in back muscle spasms due to the overuse and straining of these muscles.

-Back spasms also occur frequently in people who suddenly participate in a sport that they have not played before and whose back muscles are relatively weak.

-Improper exercise technique and forgetting to warm up the muscles before exercising can also cause back muscles to spasm. This is especially true in activities such as weightlifting and training where back muscles can be easily strained.

-Overreaching and poor lifting practices, even when just performing everyday activities can cause painful back muscle spasms. It’s not unheard of for a person to suffer a back spasm just reaching for something on a high shelf or stretching to pass an item from the front seat to the back seat of the car.

Relief for a back muscle spasm that is caused by one of the above reasons can generally be obtained without medical treatment. Here are a few suggestions that may help:

-When a spasm first starts, it is best to stop whatever activity you are engaged in and either sit or lie down.

-Try to resist the urge to tense other muscles. Although this is a common reaction to spasm pain, it is far more hurtful than helpful. Try to keep your muscles relaxed. Breathing deeply is often a good tactic for muscle relaxation.

-Once you are a little more relaxed, and the pain eases up a bit, try some gentle stretching exercises or massage to calm the muscles.

-Applying an ice pack when a spasm first occurs can be helpful, but heat therapy can provide soothing relief to the strained muscle once the spasm has passed.

-Over the counter pain medication and muscle relaxants can help with the initial pain of a back spasm.

Although understanding the causes and knowing how to treat back spasms, is very useful, it is even more important to be able to prevent them altogether. Try to keep back muscles limber by regular exercise and stretches, and by maintaining good posture and work habits. Never engage in strenuous activities without warming the muscles, and avoid sudden participation in activities that you are not used to.

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