Muscle Tension and Muscle-Related Back Pain
Muscular causes of back pain are probably the most common. They are not diagnosed in most cases because patients themselves recognize the type of pain and know that over-the-counter medications will help them relieve the symptoms.
Muscle-related causes of back pain include muscle strains, muscle tension, and muscle spasms. Some soft tissues in these structures, such as tendons and ligaments, may trigger back pain in some cases. Muscle tension is sometimes associated with other structural problems in the spine, especially curvature issues that create abnormal pressure on one side, especially after carrying weight. The cause of muscle-related back pain can also be associated with stress, and that’s why patients feel this symptom after a long day at work.
Most cases of muscle-related back pain are limited to a few hours or days and improve with over-the-counter treatment. Others may take up to one week to improve significantly, especially in cases of torticollis. If you experience aggravating symptoms that do not improve or keep coming back every once in a while, it might be a good idea to figure out the exact reason with a visit to your doctor.