Why Athletes are Prone to Back Spasm?

A large percentage of the population has suffered or is suffering from lower back pain and other types of muscle injury. However, specific individuals are at a higher risk of suffering from such injuries because of their lifestyle. Athletes, especially those who play professional sports, commonly experience muscle spasms, cramps, and other injuries. While it has been proven that being physically fit can contribute a lot in preventing such injuries, why are athletes — who are mindful of their health and are the definition of physically fit — the ones who are more likely to suffer from muscle pain and injuries?

Muscle spasm can occur intermittently for a few seconds or as a prolonged muscle contraction lasting a few minutes. It may recur after the activity or movement that triggered the spasm. Depending on its severity, it can be excruciating, temporarily leaving the injured person unable to move.

Athletes and professional players are at a higher risk of back spasms due to the following reasons.

Excessive and repeated motion

One of the most common causes of back spasm is excessive, repetitive motion. Because of the nature of the sports they play, athletes often use specific muscles more forcefully to perform certain tasks. For example, swinging a bat or a golf club, performing a spin move, or launching serves requires the use of muscles people don’t usually use in their everyday lives. Aside from using more force than usual, they also have to repeat these kinds of motions throughout their active years. For lighter injuries, athletes may be recommended to simple back pain treatment, which will allow them to get back to their game as soon as possible. At the same time, severe cases may cause players to stop playing temporarily.

Muscle exertion

Since they are required to train for several days, athletes often sustain injuries due to overstressed muscles. As mentioned above, using the same set of muscles over and over again puts a lot of stress on one’s muscles. Since they are required to practice, athletes usually don’t have much time to rest and let their muscles recover. If the pain persists after rest or recurs too often, the athlete may be given manual therapy to relieve the pain and aid the muscle’s healing.

Overworking a single muscle group

Professional players usually stick to one sport for their entire careers. Hence, they often end up training and stressing a single muscle group or a specific group, which allows them to perform the motion required by their sport. These muscles are often overworked, which causes muscle tension. While the pain or discomfort usually goes away after resting, those who are suffering from chronic/severe pain may be instructed to seek the help of a physiotherapist to improve their condition in the fastest and safest way possible.

Whether you’re suffering from back pain due to a sports injury or experiencing discomfort caused by excessive use of specific muscles, Scandinavian Physiotherapy Center DMCC offers a range of treatment plans that are tailored to your needs. You may visit one of our clinics for a consultation or book an appointment for therapy sessions.