Did you know that about 80% of adults are estimated to experience a back injury in their lifetime with more than one million injuries occurring in the workplace every year?
Despite your best prevention efforts, you need to know your options for treatment.
First, what is the difference between a back sprain and a back strain?
Back Sprain
Sprains involve the injury of one or more back ligaments that attach bone to bone. They are usually the result of overstretching, most often due to twisting during heavy lifting.
Back Strains
Back strains involve the injury of one of the muscles or tendons that attach muscle to the bone or other structures of the back. They are most often due to overstretching or overuse of a muscle and are not as severe as a sprain.
Back Sprain / Strain Symptoms
Common signs and symptoms of a back sprain / strain may include:
- Discomfort to the back, described as dull, sharp, or a burning sensation that can be intermittent or continuous.
- Increased discomfort with movement.
- Increased discomfort with prolonged sitting, standing, walking, lying, etc.
- Decreased range of motion which limits mobility.
- Muscle spasms.
- Radiating discomfort, numbness, and / or tingling to the hips or lower extremities.
5 Conservative Treatment Tips
Holly is an ER nurse by trade, but loves content marketing. She was born outside the box and believes everything is better with “sprinkles and sparkles”. She is passionate about impacting lives and uses marketing as her platform for sharing practical solutions to address real life occupational health challenges.
Find out more about our Injury Case Management services or our Occupational Health Programs.