Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesTreatmentWhen to Seek Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Treatment
When to Seek Care
Treatment and remedies for a stiff back are based on the underlying cause. They can include light activity,stretching, and certain exercises as well as ice, heat, and over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication.
Verywell / Alexandra Gordon
Lumbar Strain
Alumbar strainis the most common cause of back stiffness.This problem occurs as a result of an injury to the back muscles and ligaments that support the spinal column. Lifting a heavy box or doing an exercise the wrong way are two examples of activities that can strain the lower back.
Lumbar strains will occur in the muscles that support the spine, including the following:
Diagnostic testing is usually not necessary unless the stiffness and pain persist for more than two weeks. If they do, your healthcare provider will order an X-ray ormagnetic resonance imaging (MRI)test to help figure out the underlying cause.
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Lumbar Spine Osteoarthritis
Lumbar spine osteoarthritis is another cause of a stiff back. This condition is progressive meaning that it gets worse over time. It is a result of damage to the vertebrae due to long-term wear and tear.
As arthritis progresses, cartilage and discs in the lumbar spine begin to thin and disappear. This results in bone rubbing against bone, causing pain and stiffness. This can make movements such as bending, stooping, and twisting very difficult.
An experienced clinician can often make a diagnosis of osteoarthritis even if X-rays don’t show visible bone damage.
In some cases, other imaging tests may be needed.Degenerative disc diseaseis a form of arthritis that also causes back stiffness. This condition does not show up on X-rays but can be seen with MRI.
Light Activity
Light activity is advised when overcoming back stiffness. In the past, bed restwas the first-line course of treatment, but that’s rarely the case for anything but the most severe back injuries.
Light activities include walking slowly and doing light household chores such as putting away groceries or folding laundry.
Other light activities like strengthening muscles, improvingflexibility, and doing aerobics may help some people with back stiffness. However, what’s best varies from person to person.Speak to a healthcare professional to find out what’s optimal for you.
Performing light activity can be very helpful in relieving discomfort. However, it’s important to avoid activities that involve bending or twisting.
Ice and Heat
Ice and heat applicationscan be very helpful for relieving pain due to back stiffness. Gently heating the spine with a heating pad or pack before activities can also help to loosen and relax sore muscles and relieve some tension in the lumbar spine.
Pain Relievers
OTCnonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)like Advil (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen) can help relieve back pain and stiffness. In some cases, your healthcare provider may prescribe muscle relaxers and prescription NSAIDs likeCelebrex(celecoxib) if OTC drugs aren’t working.
Stretching and Exercises
Gentle back stretches and exercisescan help to relieve low back stiffness. Many patients also feel better when doingyogaor Pilates. Exercises to try include:
How long does it take for lower back stiffness to go away?The amount of time it takes for lower back stiffness to go away depends on what caused it. Lumbar muscle strains and sprains take about one month to heal.Lumbar osteoarthritis is a chronic condition, meaning it won’t go away. However, you can adapt your lifestyle to include a variety of exercises, stretches, and other pain management techniques to keep your symptoms to a minimum.
How long does it take for lower back stiffness to go away?
The amount of time it takes for lower back stiffness to go away depends on what caused it. Lumbar muscle strains and sprains take about one month to heal.Lumbar osteoarthritis is a chronic condition, meaning it won’t go away. However, you can adapt your lifestyle to include a variety of exercises, stretches, and other pain management techniques to keep your symptoms to a minimum.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
If you have been experiencing back pain or stiffness for more than two weeks, or your symptoms are stopping you from participating in your normal daily activities, then it’s best to see a healthcare provider.
If your pain seems especially severe or debilitating, make a visit to urgent care. The following symptoms are reasons to go to a hospital or urgent care immediately:
Your healthcare provider may recommend you to visit a medical specialist, such as achiropractoror physical therapist. Whereas chiropractors focus on the alignment of bones and joints, physical therapists focus on full-body movement and functionality.
Research shows thatchiropractic care and physical therapyprovide similar benefits for people with low back pain, although chiropractic care may be slightly more cost-effective.
Getting anew mattressmay also be able to help relieve back stiffness for some people.
Summary
Sometimes back pain doesn’t go away or gets worse despite following the recommended measures. If this is the case, contact your healthcare provider, who can run diagnostic tests. In some cases, symptoms of low back pain and stiffness will require more intensive treatments.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Low back strain and sprain.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Degenerative disc disease.Gordon R, Bloxham S.A systematic review of the effects of exercise and physical activity on non-specific chronic low back pain.Healthcare (Basel). 2016;4(2):22. doi:10.3390/healthcare4020022American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Osteoarthritis.Duke Health.When can a doctor help your back pain?Khodakarami N.Treatment of patients with low back pain: A comparison of physical therapy and chiropractic manipulation.Healthcare (Basel). 2020;8(1):44. doi:10.3390/healthcare8010044Additional ReadingMeucci RD, Fassa AG, Faria NMX.Prevalence of chronic low back pain: Systematic review.Rev Saude Publica. 2015;49:1. doi:10.1590/S0034-8910.2015049005874Nicol V, Verdaguer C, Daste C, et al.Chronic low back pain: A narrative review of recent international guidelines for diagnosis and conservative treatment.J Clin Med. 2023;12(4):1685. doi:10.3390/jcm12041685
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Low back strain and sprain.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Degenerative disc disease.Gordon R, Bloxham S.A systematic review of the effects of exercise and physical activity on non-specific chronic low back pain.Healthcare (Basel). 2016;4(2):22. doi:10.3390/healthcare4020022American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Osteoarthritis.Duke Health.When can a doctor help your back pain?Khodakarami N.Treatment of patients with low back pain: A comparison of physical therapy and chiropractic manipulation.Healthcare (Basel). 2020;8(1):44. doi:10.3390/healthcare8010044Additional ReadingMeucci RD, Fassa AG, Faria NMX.Prevalence of chronic low back pain: Systematic review.Rev Saude Publica. 2015;49:1. doi:10.1590/S0034-8910.2015049005874Nicol V, Verdaguer C, Daste C, et al.Chronic low back pain: A narrative review of recent international guidelines for diagnosis and conservative treatment.J Clin Med. 2023;12(4):1685. doi:10.3390/jcm12041685
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Low back strain and sprain.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Degenerative disc disease.Gordon R, Bloxham S.A systematic review of the effects of exercise and physical activity on non-specific chronic low back pain.Healthcare (Basel). 2016;4(2):22. doi:10.3390/healthcare4020022American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Osteoarthritis.Duke Health.When can a doctor help your back pain?Khodakarami N.Treatment of patients with low back pain: A comparison of physical therapy and chiropractic manipulation.Healthcare (Basel). 2020;8(1):44. doi:10.3390/healthcare8010044
American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Low back strain and sprain.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Degenerative disc disease.
Gordon R, Bloxham S.A systematic review of the effects of exercise and physical activity on non-specific chronic low back pain.Healthcare (Basel). 2016;4(2):22. doi:10.3390/healthcare4020022
American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Osteoarthritis.
Duke Health.When can a doctor help your back pain?
Khodakarami N.Treatment of patients with low back pain: A comparison of physical therapy and chiropractic manipulation.Healthcare (Basel). 2020;8(1):44. doi:10.3390/healthcare8010044
Meucci RD, Fassa AG, Faria NMX.Prevalence of chronic low back pain: Systematic review.Rev Saude Publica. 2015;49:1. doi:10.1590/S0034-8910.2015049005874Nicol V, Verdaguer C, Daste C, et al.Chronic low back pain: A narrative review of recent international guidelines for diagnosis and conservative treatment.J Clin Med. 2023;12(4):1685. doi:10.3390/jcm12041685
Meucci RD, Fassa AG, Faria NMX.Prevalence of chronic low back pain: Systematic review.Rev Saude Publica. 2015;49:1. doi:10.1590/S0034-8910.2015049005874
Nicol V, Verdaguer C, Daste C, et al.Chronic low back pain: A narrative review of recent international guidelines for diagnosis and conservative treatment.J Clin Med. 2023;12(4):1685. doi:10.3390/jcm12041685
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