What are Back Spasms?
Back spasms are spontaneous contractions of back muscles that are abnormal in nature. When they occur near nerve roots or the spinal cord, back spasms can be extremely painful. When these muscle contractions occur, the patient often experiences sudden pain when twisting, pulling, or pushing. Initially, people may find it possible to continue functioning, however, after a few hours, the back pain will become more severe, inhibiting any movement or activity. Usually, the patient will need to lie still to avoid any exacerbation of back pain. Generally, back spasms occur when muscles are tender, swollen, or inflamed. Any intense force can tear tendons and muscles in the lower back and contribute to contractions and spasms. This is commonly seen in sports such as baseball, football, and golf, which require sudden back twisting, pushing, and pulling. In addition, the incidence of back spasm increases when people have arthritis, disk rupture, and a pelvis that is tipped forward. Sometimes, st
