How can stiff and tight muscles result in back pain? Stiff and tight muscles may result in back pain for many reasons. For example, stiffness and tightness may cause injury and inflammation to back muscles and other muscle groups.
Stiffness and tightness may also be a sign of weak muscles, especially if these symptoms come about after a workout. The good news is that this form of back pain will resolve as your body grows stronger.
Other causes of back aches and pains are not so easy to treat. In these cases, at-home remedies like exercising or applying hot and cold therapy may help. Therapeutic massage can be highly effective, too.
This guide will explain what causes stiffness and tightness, why stiff, tight muscles are linked to back pain, and how to relieve it, so read on to learn more.
How Can Stiff and Tight Muscles Result in Back Pain?
Stiff and tight muscles can result in back pain by putting back muscles under constant tension. Chronic constant tension can cause tiny injuries to back muscles, which are known as microtears.
The muscles of the back are some of the most important in your entire body. They help you move, bend, rotate, and stand and even play a role in breathing. Because they have so many jobs, our back muscles are prone to injury.
Inflammation is the body’s way of healing these injuries. But it also causes a cascade of effects. One of these effects is the release of substances (e.g., substance P, capsaicin, and prostaglandins) that signal the brain to feel pain.
How Muscles Connected to the Back Lead to Back Pain
It’s not just injuries to the back muscles that cause back pain. Injuries to muscles in other areas of the body can cause downstream effects on the back. The following muscles connect to the back muscles:
- Hamstrings in the back of the thighs
- Hip flexors at the top of the thighs
- Rotator cuffs that connect the shoulder blades to the arms
- The trapezius muscle in the neck
- Obliques on both sides of the waist
Finding relief from back pain is more complex because of its connection to these muscle groups. A whole-body treatment approach is best for alleviating pain and learning how to prevent it from returning.
What Causes Stiff, Tight Muscles?
Stress, overuse injuries, an inactive lifestyle, and even dehydration can cause stiff, tight muscles in the back or elsewhere in the body. There are also certain diseases and chronic conditions that may lead to constantly stiff muscles.
Still, the following causes are far more common.
Stress
Stress puts the body in a state of fight or flight. Part of the fight-or-flight response is the tensing of the muscles. When this tension never resolves, as in chronic stress, stiffness and tightness may result.
Overuse
Overuse injuries occur when muscle groups perform the same repetitive motion over and over. These injuries happen due to the excess and persistent tension applied to the muscle groups. This leads to stiffness and tightness.
Inactivity
In a way, your muscles are like a car battery. They need to be used frequently to perform optimally. People who rarely move their bodies have weak muscles that cannot support bones and joints properly, causing stiffness and tightness.
Dehydration
If your stiff, tight muscles also come with cramping, dehydration may be to blame. Muscles need water to produce energy for effective movement and muscle building. Without it, they can’t function properly.
Relieving Back Pain from Stiff, Tight Muscles
Now that you understand what causes stiff and tight muscles and how stiff and tight muscles lead to back pain let’s discuss what you can do about it. The following activities are some of the best ways to alleviate your pain.
Exercise and Stretch
Physical therapy is a mainstay in pain management for a reason. Exercising the muscles can strengthen them, reducing the risk of injuries, stiffness, and pain. And the best part is that you can practice lower back pain exercises at home.
When trying at-home physical therapy, remember to always warm up before exercise and stretch after. Warming up and stretching can help prevent injury and improve post-exercise muscle recovery.
Try Hot and Cold Therapy
Hot and cold therapy is one of the oldest therapies for muscle pain in the book. It involves applying alternating cold ice packs and hot compresses for 20 minutes each, multiple times daily.
The cold aspect of this at-home treatment helps to reduce swelling and inflammation and relieve pain. Applying heat afterwards relaxes the muscles and soothes joint stiffness.
Get a Massage
In a review of 25 clinical trials involving more than 3,000 people with lower back pain, researchers found that massage is an effective treatment for alleviating pain and helping people relax.
Massaging your muscles yourself a few times a day can help. But the most powerful option is a therapeutic massage. Next, we will discuss the best types of therapeutic massage for back pain.
The Best Types of Massage for Back Pain
Sports massage, shiatsu, and many other types of massage therapy can benefit back pain. But two of the most common and effective types of massage for back pain are the deep tissue and Swedish massage techniques.
Swedish massage is one of the most common techniques available. It uses light to medium pressure. The aim of this massage technique is to relax the muscles and provide stress relief.
On the other hand, deep-tissue massage therapists use more pressure to target tense, stiff muscles. The aim of this technique is to release knots in muscles that may be causing strain or even pain in your lower back.
Massage Therapy for Back Pain in Edmonton
So, how can stiff and tight muscles result in back pain? Stiff and tight muscles can become injured over time or put extra stress on bones and joints. Inflammation may result, leading to back pain.
Are you searching for a massage therapist for back pain in West Edmonton? Masahista Healing Hands offers Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, and more therapeutic techniques designed to alleviate your aches and pains.
Book an appointment today and find relief for your back pain.
