Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is It?SymptomsCausesRisk FactorsWhen to See a Healthcare ProviderTreatmentPrevention

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Is It?

Symptoms

Causes

Risk Factors

When to See a Healthcare Provider

Treatment

Prevention

Many people describe low back pain or sciatica as a tight muscle or back spasm. Back spasms may feel mild—like a small fist is pressing into one side of your spine—orthey may feel intenseand prevent you from sitting, standing, or walking comfortably.

Treatment varies from gentle stretching and a change in posture to physical therapy, steroid injections, and possibly even surgery. If your back spasms become so severe that you cannot move properly, you may need to seek medical care right away.

Verywell / Matthew Collins

Risk Factors for Back Spasms: Cigar or cigarette (smoking), older person (age), a broken bone (bone weakening disease), weights that a weight lifter may use (regular heavy lifting), a brain in a head (emotional stress and psychological conditions), a person hunched in a chair (poor sitting or standing position)

What Is a Back Spasm?

A back spasm is a sudden onset of back tightness. Usually, it feels like a tight muscle, and sometimes the tight sensation becomes so intense and severe that it prevents you from moving normally. Some people with back spasms have difficulty bending forward due to the pain and tightness.

Most episodes of back spasms may last for several hours up to several days. Some severe cases last about six to eight weeks, but spasms and pain should subside gradually over that time period, allowing you to move normally and get back to your normal activity.

Common sensations and symptoms felt when you have a back spasm may include:

What Causes of Back Spasms?

Mechanical causes of back spasms may include:

All of these problems place increased stress on the anatomical structures in your spine. Your lower back muscles near these structures may go into a protective spasm, causing a tight and painful sensation in your back.

Other non-mechanical causes of low back spasms may include:

Muscle spasms may also indicate a larger health issue, such as:

If you have a condition that puts stress and strain on your spine, you may be at risk for back spasms.

A Word From Verywell

—AMY KWAN, PT, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD

Amy Kwan, PT

There are several risk factors for lower back spasms. Some of these are modifiable, while others cannot be changed.

Risk factors for back spasms include:

If you have any of these risk factors, work to minimize them or avoid them. You can stop smoking, take up exercise (under the guidance of your healthcare provider), or engage in positive activities that help you manage stress.

If you have back spasms, you may need to check in with your healthcare provider to get a proper diagnosis and the correct treatment.

A Word From VerywellIf you have a desk job that requires sitting all day, ergonomic adjustments to your workspace can be very helpful. For occupations that involve heavy lifting, learning proper lifting techniques and how to engage other muscles can reduce the stress on your back. Consult with your healthcare provider or physical therapist who can evaluate your condition and provide insights on improving your symptoms.—AMY KWAN, PT, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD

If you have a desk job that requires sitting all day, ergonomic adjustments to your workspace can be very helpful. For occupations that involve heavy lifting, learning proper lifting techniques and how to engage other muscles can reduce the stress on your back. Consult with your healthcare provider or physical therapist who can evaluate your condition and provide insights on improving your symptoms.—AMY KWAN, PT, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD

If you have a desk job that requires sitting all day, ergonomic adjustments to your workspace can be very helpful. For occupations that involve heavy lifting, learning proper lifting techniques and how to engage other muscles can reduce the stress on your back. Consult with your healthcare provider or physical therapist who can evaluate your condition and provide insights on improving your symptoms.

Most episodes of low back spasms will go away on their own, but sometimes your condition may require that you visit your healthcare provider for proper treatment. Symptoms that indicate you should visit a medical professional right away for your back spasms may include:

Naturally, if you have any symptom that causes you to worry that something serious is going on, call your healthcare provider. There is no harm in having a discussion about your spasms with your healthcare provider. They can then determine if you need to be seen and can offer guidance on how to best treat your condition.

When you meet with your healthcare provider, they may ask some of these specific questions to help diagnose back spasms:

When Is It a Medical Emergency?

When visiting your healthcare provider about your back spasms, they will likely perform various tests to determine the mechanical cause of your pain. These tests may include:

These tests are designed to give your healthcare provider an idea of your movements and the status of the bones, nerves, discs, and muscles of your lower back. With an accurate diagnosis, the right treatment can be initiated for your back spasms.

Back Spasms Treatment

Treatment for back spasms may include home remedies or treatments from medical providers. The treatments are designed torelieve your back spasmsand manage the mechanical stresses that may have caused your spasms. Medical professionals can also teach you strategies to prevent back spasms.

Home remedies for back spasms may include:

If any of these self-care strategies fail to manage your back spasms, you may need to visit a medical professional for treatment. Medical treatments for back spasms may include:

Injections and surgery for your pain are rather invasive and risky, and they should be considered as a last resort treatment for your back spasms.

Those with back spasms should avoid a large amount of walking or other exercises that might make the spasms worse, such as twisting, lifting, or bending.

Most people with back spasms are able to manage with physical therapy or chiropractic care that includes learning exercises and postures that help relieve tightness in the lower back.

Minor back spasms usually resolve themselves within a few weeks of rest. People with injuries that persist longer should seek help from a medical provider.

Preventing back spasms is important, especially if you have suffered from spasms in the past. Ways to prevent back spasms may include:

Simple changes in your lifestyle can have a drastic effect on your lower back spasms. Working closely with your healthcare provider, physical therapist, or personal trainer can help you get started on the road to preventing back spasms.

Summary

There are many possible causes of back spasms. Mechanical changes in your spine may place increased stress on your muscles, and anxiety or stress may cause your back to feel tight. When you feel back spasms coming on, you can try various home self-care strategies to manage the problem.

Persistent or severe back spasms may require help from your physician or other medical professional. If you have back spasms, learning the cause of your problem and how to best manage it can help you quickly and safely return to your previous level of function and activity.

14 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.Medline Plus.Low back pain—acute.Merck Manual.Low back pain.Mayo Clinic. “Muscle Cramps"Mayo Clinic “Gallstones"Mayo Clinic. “Kidney Stones"Mayo Clinic “Kidney Infection"Mayo Clinic. “Spinal Cord Tumor"National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Back pain.Long B, Koyfman A, Gottlieb M.Evaluation and management of cauda equina syndrome in the emergency department.The American Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2020;38(1):143-148. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2019.158402Mayo Clinic. “Back Pain/Spasms"Bhatia A, Engle A, Cohen SP.Current and future pharmacological agents for the treatment of back pain.Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy. 2020;21(8):857-861. doi:10.1080/14656566.2020.1735353Mayo Clinic. “Myofascial release therapy: Can it relieve back pain?“Mayo Clinic. “Back Pain"Harvard Health. “Don’t take back pain sitting down.”

14 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.Medline Plus.Low back pain—acute.Merck Manual.Low back pain.Mayo Clinic. “Muscle Cramps"Mayo Clinic “Gallstones"Mayo Clinic. “Kidney Stones"Mayo Clinic “Kidney Infection"Mayo Clinic. “Spinal Cord Tumor"National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Back pain.Long B, Koyfman A, Gottlieb M.Evaluation and management of cauda equina syndrome in the emergency department.The American Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2020;38(1):143-148. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2019.158402Mayo Clinic. “Back Pain/Spasms"Bhatia A, Engle A, Cohen SP.Current and future pharmacological agents for the treatment of back pain.Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy. 2020;21(8):857-861. doi:10.1080/14656566.2020.1735353Mayo Clinic. “Myofascial release therapy: Can it relieve back pain?“Mayo Clinic. “Back Pain"Harvard Health. “Don’t take back pain sitting down.”

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.

Medline Plus.Low back pain—acute.Merck Manual.Low back pain.Mayo Clinic. “Muscle Cramps"Mayo Clinic “Gallstones"Mayo Clinic. “Kidney Stones"Mayo Clinic “Kidney Infection"Mayo Clinic. “Spinal Cord Tumor"National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Back pain.Long B, Koyfman A, Gottlieb M.Evaluation and management of cauda equina syndrome in the emergency department.The American Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2020;38(1):143-148. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2019.158402Mayo Clinic. “Back Pain/Spasms"Bhatia A, Engle A, Cohen SP.Current and future pharmacological agents for the treatment of back pain.Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy. 2020;21(8):857-861. doi:10.1080/14656566.2020.1735353Mayo Clinic. “Myofascial release therapy: Can it relieve back pain?“Mayo Clinic. “Back Pain"Harvard Health. “Don’t take back pain sitting down.”

Medline Plus.Low back pain—acute.

Merck Manual.Low back pain.

Mayo Clinic. “Muscle Cramps”

Mayo Clinic “Gallstones”

Mayo Clinic. “Kidney Stones”

Mayo Clinic “Kidney Infection”

Mayo Clinic. “Spinal Cord Tumor”

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Back pain.

Long B, Koyfman A, Gottlieb M.Evaluation and management of cauda equina syndrome in the emergency department.The American Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2020;38(1):143-148. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2019.158402

Mayo Clinic. “Back Pain/Spasms”

Bhatia A, Engle A, Cohen SP.Current and future pharmacological agents for the treatment of back pain.Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy. 2020;21(8):857-861. doi:10.1080/14656566.2020.1735353

Mayo Clinic. “Myofascial release therapy: Can it relieve back pain?”

Mayo Clinic. “Back Pain”

Harvard Health. “Don’t take back pain sitting down.”

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