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Weight lifter's back is considered a sports injury and is so named because it is commonly caused by pushing or pulling against great resistance. This condition creates what is known as lumbar strain. It is an injury to the muscles and tendons in the lower back that causes muscles spasms and soreness. This condition can occur from lifting weights, playing football, playing basketball, playing baseball, playing golf, moving heavy objects, and automobile accidents.
It is a well known fact that any tremendous force is capable of tearing the muscles and tendons of the lumbar region or lower back. Injuries such as this are common in those who play sports that require any pushing or pulling against a major resistance such as that which is found in snatching a heavy weight from the ground or pushing against an opposing player in football. This type of injury can also occur in sports where a sudden twisting of the back is required as it is in basketball when turning to dribble after a rebound. This sudden twisting motion is also found in the swinging of a golf club or bat. Exaggerated movements when moving heavy objects such as furniture or the sudden heavy impact of an automobile accident can cause this type of injury as well.
When the lower back is injured a person will feel sudden pain when twisting, pushing or pulling. In the beginning the pain may not be that severe and the person may continue with their activity. But as the torn muscle or tendon continues to bleed and swell it will eventually go into a spasm. When this occurs the pain may be severe causing any back movement to be unbearable. The person will desire to remain still and in many cases to curl up in a fetal position. The lower back will feel painful or sore when touched and any bending forward will cause additional pain. If possible a person with this type of injury should immediately rest and apply cold packs with compression to the sore back. Exercises to strengthen the abdominal muscles are recommended but not until the torn tendon or muscles is completely healed.
There are several risk factors that can play a part in lower back injuries. Anyone who has a pronounced curve of the spine, a forward tilted pelvis, tight or weak back muscles, tight hamstrings or weak abdominal muscles is at risk for this type of injury. Also at risk are those who have a spine that has been weakened by arthritis, slipped or ruptured disk, spinal bone tumor or misaligned vertebrae. When the spine has a pronounced curve it tends to put additional stress on the muscles that support the lower back. In many cases this condition is related to the tilt of the pelvis.
In addition, there are a variety of exercises that can be used to help tilt the top of the pelvis back into a more normal position. These exercises include those that would strengthen the abdominal muscles to shorten them and those that stretch the thigh muscles to lengthen them such as the pelvic tilt, abdominal curls, hip stretches, quadricep stretches, lower back stretches, the swan and single leg lifts that are done with the spine arched. The use of a rowing machine is a wonderful way to strengthen the back muscles if doing so is not painful. Another way to protect your lower back from injury is by using a weight lifting belt which can be purchased from most sporting goods stores.
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