Lumbar Strain: Causes And Treatment
Lumbar strain is a common condition that can cause lower back pain. The condition is usually the result of an injury or overuse from doing an activity that your body is not used to.
Research suggests an estimated 70-90% of people will suffer from lower back pain in their lifetime. Lumbar strain injuries are very common in people experiencing lower back pain.
Fortunately, there are treatments available.
What Causes Lumbar Strain?
Lumbar strain, and lower back strain injuries as a whole, can be caused by a variety of factors. Commonly these injuries occur after lifting items that are too heavy like deadlifting at the gym or lifting heavy loads at work. It may also be caused by a bad fall or repetitive movements such as twisting in a chair at work throughout the day.
What Are The Symptoms Of Lumbar Strain
Each person will experience their own set of symptoms depending on how they injured their lower back but the most common symptoms of lumbar strain injuries are:
- Dull or achy lower back pain
- Sharp pain in the lower back
- Muscle spasms around the lower back
- Stiffness in your lower back when straightening your spine and going from sitting to standing.
- Tenderness in the lower back
Is A Lumbar Strain Serious?
While a lumbar strain injury is painful, especially when it first occurs, in most cases this type of injury should heal quickly. A lumbar strain is similar to a sprained ankle, in that there is damage to the ligaments and muscles that occurs initially, but with the right management, these injuries rarely cause long term problems.
How Do I Treat A Lumbar Strain?
If you’re experiencing a lumbar strain, getting lower back pain treatment will make a significant difference to your recovery.
For a minor strain, using ice over the area of the injury will help to reduce the inflammation. It should be applied for the first 48 hours after you’ve hurt yourself. Anti-inflammatories may also help to reduce pain for muscle strains.
If your back pain persists, or the injury is having serious repercussions on daily life, you should consult a physical therapy practitioner such as a chiropractor, physiotherapist or remedial massage therapist. Seeking treatment sooner will help benefit your recovery, so reach out within the first week if possible.
A practitioner will be able to provide treatment for pain and inflammation, as well as recommend strengthening exercises and stretches you can do at home to help with your recovery.
How Dynamic Chiropractic Can Help
If you are experiencing lumbar strain, don’t be afraid to seek help.
Visiting therapy from a chiropractor can help figure out what’s causing the pain and then get you the right treatment. Dynamic Chiropractic is a clinic that provides a range of chiropractic treatments, including spinal adjustments, exercises and stretches that strengthen muscles, release tension and improve wellbeing. We also educate patients on strategies to incorporate healthy habits into their lives.
Our passion is to help patients to get back to feeling their best and achieving their goals.
Check out our health tips blog for more advice or book a consultation with Dr Miki at her Brisbane chiropractic clinic today!
