What Causes Muscle Pull?

A muscle pull is a condition where the muscles of the back are injured due to a traumatic pulling of the fibers. This tearing of the fibers is known as a muscle strain.

One of the most common sites of injury, regardless of the sport, is the lower back region. There is a whole host of causes for lower back pain, for example,

• In runners weak or inflexible hamstrings can often be the culprit
• Poor posture is another common cause

Causes

A sudden or abrupt movement that causes the muscles to stretch the muscles past their point of elasticity usually causes these injuries.

• Some back strains are the result of a high velocity impact such as a car accident that causes whiplash etc.
• Others are caused due to repetitive strains. For example,
• a person who maintains improper posture at a computer on a regular basis
• a tennis player who uses improper form may have their muscles tighten to the extent that something as simple as reaching for a salt shaker can cause them to pull a muscle

To add to the pain of a pulled muscle, the surrounding muscles react to the tear by stiffening to protect the injured muscle from further harm

Recovery time

On average it takes about six weeks to recover from a muscle pull with some relief being felt after about three weeks. Scar tissue will continue to form past six weeks in some cases and as long as a year in severe back strains.

The first line of treatment is to support and protect the muscles, help them to loosen up and lessen the pain and minimize any inflammation. After the scar tissue has begun to accumulate, it will be important to perform procedures that help break down the scar tissue in the muscle so as to let the muscle regain it's normal flexibility and lessen the chance of further injury. This is done through ultrasound, massage, and gentle chiropractic adjustments. After three weeks, the muscle strain usually benefits from a program of mild exercise.

A few measures to cure your back pain

• Stretching
• Good posture
• Work on the abdominal muscles
• Finding the Right Chair or Seat Insert Cushion
• Ice packs
• Proper diet
• Vitamin, Mineral and Herb Supplementation
• Yoga and Meditation to relax your back