What causes a pulled muscle in the middle of your back?

Pain in the middle of your back can prevent you from enjoying your favorite activities like sports or playing with your kids or grandkids. Some occasional soreness in the middle of your back is normal. For example, sitting for too long or working hard all day can cause soreness in your back. 

Mild soreness usually goes away after a little rest. However, a pulled muscle in the middle of your back can cause long-lasting pain that affects your day-to-day life. 

What causes a pulled muscle in your back?

A pulled muscle is a muscle that has been overstretched or torn. This is usually the result of strain from overexertion in physical activities like sports or manual labor. However, there are other causes of a pulled muscle in your lower back, including:

• Improper lifting techniques — Bending at the hips when picking up a heavy object off the ground is one of the leading causes of a strained muscle in your back. Lifting an object from this position forces the muscles in the back to stretch over a long distance, making them more vulnerable to tearing under the weight of the heavy object.

  Avoid this kind of pain by lifting heavy objects by bending at the knees instead of your hips.

• Excess weight — Weighing too much puts additional strain on the muscles in your back. This can cause one or more of them to stretch or tear. Try to maintain a healthy weight to help reduce your chances of pulling a muscle in the middle of your back.
• Tight leg muscles — Tightness in the leg muscles forces the back to compensate for more support of your upper body weight. This typically affects the muscles in your lower back, but it can affect your middle back as well. 

Visit SSOR in Overland Park, KS, if you need treatment for a pulled muscle in your back

Our physical therapists at SSOR in Overland Park, Kansas, can help you reduce and prevent pain caused by a pulled muscle in your back. Our team can examine the condition of your back and guide you through a personalized treatment routine to help you reach your recovery goals. 

Have questions about what physical therapists can do about a pulled muscle in your back? Contact our team today for more information about pulled back muscles or to schedule an initial appointment.