Back and Neck Sprains

These are extremely common. 80 % population in the world has suffered from back/neck sprain once in their lifetime. The commonest area is the lower back because this is the area that bears the most weight, especially when moving, twisting, and bending. Back sprains are caused when ligaments—the tough bands of tissue that hold bones together—become overstretched or torn.

Back strains involve a muscle and/or tendon. However, many times the source of the pain can’t be clearly defined.A back sprain or strain can occur when you lift too much weight, take on a new activity, play a strenuous sport, or even bend or twist improperly during the course of a regular day. Whether it’s a sprain or a strain, the result is the same: Soft tissues become inflamed and cause pain, and often muscle spasms, which can be quite debilitating to a person’s movement and activities of daily living.Of course, if pain and/or other symptoms suddenly or progressively worsen it’s time to call the doctor. At this point, doctor will want to rule out any underlying causes of back pain like a disc injury or a pinched nerve. He/she may order an X-ray, CT Scan, or an MRI to examine the vertebrae, joints, spinal cord, and nerve roots.

Treatment is conservative with medications and rest (usually not complete bed rest) in most patients. In recurrent cases, correction of underlying precipitating cause like incorrect posture, inappropriate diet lacking useful vitamins and sedentary lifestyle long with medications and physiotherapy is necessary.