Back Injuries

Back injuries and sport go hand in hand. When you’re pushing your body to the limit it can be easy to strain and twist muscles in your back by overstretching or changing direction quickly.

Heavy lifting often leads to back injuries so in sports like weightlifting it will always be common. Contact sports like football and will also see a lot of back problems as a result of impact injuries and sharp movements.

Back pain is split into two types – acute back pain and chronic back pain. The first will often be treatable with painkillers and rest, although some doctors will also advise you to get up and move around to improve flexibility in the muscles.

Chronic back pain might well require exploratory surgery to locate the root of the problem. Back injuries can stem from a number of problems such as herniated or slipped discs and be incredibly painful.

Back injuries are more common amongst older athletes and tend to start becoming more frequent for people in their thirties and forties.

To avoid back injuries it’s advisable to do strengthening exercises on a consistent basis. A combination of stretching, extending and aerobic exercises will also aid recovery as well as giving you the best chance of avoiding future back injuries.

If you want to learn more about anything to do with back injuries then browse our list of articles below.