A lower back sprain or strain can cause serious pain and discomfort, with the potential to impact your day to day life. With this in mind, it’s important to understand the most common causes of this injury, as that’ll allow you to better protect yourself.
First, let’s discuss the difference between a sprain and strain:
• A sprain occurs as the result of tearing or over-stretching ligaments
• A strain occurs when a muscle is stretched too far, resulting in a tear
Now, do you see why lower back sprains and strains are so common? Causes include but are not limited to:
• Poor posture, which can lead to a sprain or strain over time
• Lifting a heavy object
• Sudden movement, such as a slip and fall or motor vehicle accident
• Sports injuries
While a lower back sprain or strain isn’t the most serious injury, both can be painful. Fortunately, with proper treatment — including rest, ice, heat, and massage therapy — you can get back to normal sooner rather than later.
Final tip: don’t assume that your sprain or strain will heal without treatment. If you continue to go about your regular life, you’ll aggravate the injury and make it more difficult to recover in a timely manner.
Jennifer Ferdinand, owner of Serendipity Wellness Studio in Burke, VA, has been practicing massage therapy and esthetics since 2006. She is nationally certified through NCBTMB, and licensed in Virginia for both Massage Therapy and Esthetics.