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Most people will experience back pain during their lifetime. Some
patients fear the worst, especially when pain is severe. Although
back pain can be caused by fracture, disc disorder, or tumor,
the most common cause is sprain or strain.
Sprains and strains often result from excessive physical demands
on the back. Lifting something too heavy, a sudden fall, car crash,
or sports injury can cause soft tissues (ligaments, muscles, tendons)
to stretch too much.
Sprains · Strains
The spine includes vertebrae (bones), discs (cartilaginous pads
or shock absorbers), the spinal cord and nerve roots (neurological
wiring system), and blood vessels (nourishment). Ligaments link
bones together, and tendons connect muscles to bones and discs.
The ligaments, muscles, and tendons work together to handle the
external forces the spine encounters during movement, such as
bending forward and lifting.
Sprains and strains are similar
disorders affecting different soft tissues in the spine. Sprains
are limited to ligaments whereas strains affect muscles, tendons,
or muscle-tendon combinations.
Ligaments are strong flexible bands of fibrous tissue. Although
ligaments are resistant to being stretched, they do allow some
freedom of movement. Muscle is made up of individual and segmental
strands of tissue. When back muscles encounter excessive external
force, individual strands can stretch or tear while the rest of
the muscle is spared injury.
To illustrate a sprain or strain, consider what happens when lifting
something heavy. Initially muscles are recruited to manage the
load. When the load or force exceeds the muscles' ability to cope,
the force is shared with the ligaments. When a ligament is stressed
beyond its strength, it can tear.
Local tissues swell when ligaments,
muscles, tendons, or combinations become overstretched, overused,
or torn. Swelling causes pain, tenderness, and stiffness; swelling
serves to protect the injured back by restricting movement - similar
to a splint on a broken leg.
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