Are you experiencing back pain? Did you know that around 20 percent of people who have occasional lower back pain, go on to have chronic problems with their lower back after one year? Dr. Peter Hinz at Cool Springs Chiropractic in Franklin, TN, has plenty of experience with helping people with back pain. In this article, we will discuss the many reasons that you could be experiencing this.
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4 Reasons You May Have a Stiff Back
A stiff back is something that can leave you miserable. Anytime you walk or move, you have to use your back muscles. That makes it somewhat painful to do anything when you’re experiencing a stiff back or back pain. Here are some of the many reasons you could have a stiff back.
Tight Muscles In Your Thighs And Hips
Muscles being tight in your thigh or hip area can cause you significant pain. It can hurt to walk and move. The hamstring muscle runs through your thigh. There are a few ways to strain this muscle, and one is not stretching before exercising.
If your hip flexors are tight, this can also lead to discomfort. These muscles all connect to the muscles in your back and spine in some way. Whether the strain is causing you to hold your body differently or that the muscles are pulling from your back.
Sitting With Your Spine Curved Forward
Desk jobs can take a toll on your back and hips. The posture that many people use while sitting is what causes these problems. Most of the time, you are hunched over instead of sitting straight up with your shoulders back.
Your spine segments will build more and more pressure the more extended amount of time you sit. You can also see a reduction in the amount of strength you have in your back muscles. There is less movement happening in your body when you sit for long periods of time.
Inflammatory Changes In Your Spine
If you have a lot of inflammation in your back or spine, it can cause you many difficulties moving. Simple motions of walking, bending over, and more can become painful to do. There are two conditions related to this problem: ankylosing spondylitis and osteoarthritis.
If you are struggling with either one of these issues, there is hope. They are both illnesses that cause stiffness and inflammation in the spine area. You can help with this situation with medication. Many also combine exercise and a few lifestyle changes to help the situation.
Dehydration And Shrinkage Of Your Spinal Discs
Between the vertebrates in your spine are discs. There is a lot of tension and weight that’s carried in your back and spine. These discs help to absorb the shock of all the movement and weight that you carry. There are many cases of people having trouble with their spinal discs as they age.
To help this type of situation, you can try a few different things. If you are overweight, losing weight can help take the weight load off of these discs. There’s also the option of physical therapy and medication for pain.
Other Reasons for Back Pain
There are hundreds and thousands of people who deal with back pain on a daily basis. If this is you, consider seeing a chiropractor. Dr. Peter Hinz at Cool Springs Chiropractic in Franklin, TN, has helped many people over the years with various back-related pain.
When you have back pain, there isn’t one sole reason you experience this. It can be anything from a medical condition, injury, or age causing you to have this problem. Some of the other reasons that people experience back pain are explained below.
Psychological Stress Can Cause Back Pain
When you have stress, anxiety, or tension in your life, it can cause discomfort in your body. You tend to hold your body differently when you are stressed. Your body muscles can become tense and stiff when you are anxious.
All of this can result in you experiencing sore muscles and back pain. The most commonly reported areas to be bothersome to people in the neck and back. When you are stressed, the shoulders tend to draw in. This is affecting the muscles in the shoulders and back.
Tight Quad Muscles And How They Relate to Low Back Pain
The body is all connected in some form. The muscles in your quads can affect your back negatively. It is all about how the body is sitting and what it’s affecting. Not stretching before working out or inactivity can lead to tight quads. This can make specific tasks hard to complete without hurting yourself. The quad muscle runs up to the hips, resulting in lower back pain if your quad muscles are tight.
Dehydration And Overuse
Drinking enough water is not only crucial for your overall health, but it is equally vital for your muscles. When you are dehydrated, it can take a toll on your body in more ways than you realize. The muscles in your back can become tense and stiff. This reaction is a defense to keep you from further injuring yourself. It is painful in itself to have a tight or stiff muscle. Always remember to drink enough and stay hydrated when exerting physical activity.
Disc Disorders And Muscle Spasms
A disc disorder can leave you in pain, along with muscle spasms. When you are in pain, your natural reaction is to protect the area. You can do this without even realizing you are doing it. Your body will automatically try to limit movement to the site.
When you have a disc bulge or herniate, it can be incredibly painful to the nerves near your spine. Your body will try to keep this area in a tiny amount of pain as possible. The bad thing about this is, your muscles will become stiff. This can lead to muscle spasms and a lot of discomforts.
Symptoms Of Tight Back Muscles
More people experience back pain than people who don’t. There is around sixty to eighty percent of adults who have had back pain of some sort at some point in their life. It costs millions every year in medical costs for back pain-related doctor visits. Some of the symptoms that people mainly express feeling are:
- Pulling Pain
- Knots Or Bulges In The Back
- Dull Continuous Ache
- Tense Pulsing Pain
- Walking and Bending Is Difficult
- Tightness In The Legs, Hips, Or Pelvis
- Movement Is Hard and Painful
- Standing Straight Is Painful
- Muscle Cramps
- Pain Isn’t As Bad When Sitting Still
- Radiating Pain From Back Through The Legs
- Muscle Spasms
These are many of the symptoms that people complain about the most when they have stiff muscles. The nerves that are being contracted by the muscles are sending messages to the brain. It is telling your brain that it hurts.
Problems That Cause Tight Muscles And Back Pain
There are problems aside from injuries or posture that can cause muscle stiffness and back pain. Although, a lot of times, one of those things is to blame. Some of the commonly known problems are:
- Sciatica
- Arthritis
- Straining A Muscle
- Herniated Disc
- Osteoarthritis
There are even times that you can sleep in an awkward position and cause a stiff muscle. The important thing is to take care of it and not further injure yourself. If it is causing a lot of pain for you, then you may need to see a doctor or a chiropractor for relief.
Types Of Muscles That Result In Back Pain
The human body is made up of a wide variety of muscles all throughout the body. There are two larger muscles called the erector spinae and the lower back’s gluteal muscles. When people are experiencing trouble with muscular pain in the back, it is one of these two muscles.
Dr. Peter Hinz at Cool Springs Chiropractic in Franklin, TN, can help you find the proper treatment to help these muscles. There are sometimes that the pain could be caused by sciatica. This type of pain will usually feel slightly different and radiate throughout the legs.
Ways To Cure Tight Muscles That Cause Back Pain
If you are someone who suffers back pain due to tight muscles, there are some things that you can do to help. You can see a chiropractor to help relieve it. There are many home remedies that you can try as well. Some of them are:
- Try And Pay Attention To Your Posture
- Correct Any Bad Posture
- Try Medicated Creams- Icy Hot, BioFreeze, and More
- Try To Maintain A Healthy Weight
- Stretch Your Muscles Before Strenuous Activity
- Lay On A Heating Pad
- Apply Ice Packs
- Try Over The Counter Medications
- Try and Do Physical Therapy
- Try And Stay Active
- Go For A Massage Therapy Appointment
Stretching is an excellent way to help prevent tight muscles. Although, you can overdo your stretching. It is a good idea to continually challenge yourself and make sure you are fully stretching the muscles. But, don’t overdo it and injure yourself further.
How To Loosen The Lower Back And Hips
The hips can be a trouble spot for many people. This area can also affect the lower back and cause stiff muscles. One of the ways that you can help to loosen this area and release tension is to:
- Put Your Left Knee On The Ground
- Bend Your Left Leg and Place Your Left Foot On The Ground
- Press Your Hips Forward To Stretch The Hip Area
- Remember To Keep Your Back Straight
- You Can Lay Your Abdomen On The Top Of Your Left Thigh
- Hold The Position For Up To 30 Seconds and Repeat A Few Times
- Each Time Try To Lean In A Bit Further
- Switch Sides and Repeat The Same Steps
This is only one of the exercises that you can do to try and find relief. There are more that you can experiment with. Don’t push yourself too far and cause additional discomfort.
Are you suffering from back pain, sports injury, or an accident? Did you know Chiropractic can possibly help treat these injuries?
Get in touch with Dr. Peter Hinz at Cool Springs Chiropractic today for a FREE consultation.
