An exercise-induced injury in the lower back can be frightening and painful. Often an insufficient warm up produces a strain or sprain of the muscles surrounding the lumbar region of the spine. In other cases, the injury can be more debilitating and require a longer recovery period. Speak to your physician or health care practitioner if you have injured your lower back as a result of exercise.
Muscle Strain
Most of the instances of severe exercise induced lower back pain occur when muscles in the lumbar region stretch beyond their range, resulting in a muscle pull or complete tear, according to Spine Health. The concomitant inflammation will create mobility problems and, in some cases, back spasms.
Connective Tissue Injuries
A lumbar ligament tear may occur as a result of excessive twisting motions performed during exercise. Connective tissues of the spine may also be overstretched during exercise due to an insufficient warm up. Tendons and ligaments in the spine can similarly encounter trauma from sports injuries such as tackles or cycling accidents.
Disk Injury
Exercise can also cause damage to intervertebral disks, the soft jelly-like sacs that rest between the vertebrae and function as shock absorbers for the spine. Damage can manifest as a disk tear or the more serious herniated disk, wherein the disk dislodges and presses against the nerves of the spine.
Treatment and Rehabilitation
Many lower back injuries that happen because of exercise respond well to rest. This will depend wholly on the type of injury, its location in the spine and its severity. Heat, ice, massage, medication and chiropractic therapy may help alleviate the pain while the injury heals. The best way to avoid a lower back injury from exercise is to never scrimp on your warm up. Make sure sure your back feels warm and loose before you engage in any physically intense exercise or sports.
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