If you have had a good look at the major muscles of the back, you should have a better understanding of how each of these muscles work and even the functions of these muscle groups with the rest of the body. However, knowing how the back muscles work does not necessarily indicate how chronic back pain occurs or is caused, nor will it let you know where the pain originates. By taking a closer look at what causes most back pain and injuries we will have a better understanding of how it really works and how to avoid the problems from the beginning.

Injury

Perhaps one of the most common causes of pain in the back is due to injury. This may sound surprising since many will experience pain in the back and will assume that it is not due to back injury because they feel that they have not even injured their back in anyway, but it in fact they may have.

The truth is it does not take very much to injure the back muscles. As you should be aware the major muscle groups of the back extend all the way from the neck down to the lower back region, and there are literally a number of places where small injuries can occur causing a lot of pain in the back

What is especially important to remember about injuring your back is that when you hurt any of these smaller muscles they rarely have time to heal properly.  Since the back is constantly in use even when we’re at rest, these muscles are always being stretched and strained. It’s much like having to go to work when you have a cold or the flu - it takes that much longer to heal when you can’t rest because your body can’t give the sick parts the attention it deserves. So it goes with your back - when you hurt any of those muscles, no matter how small, they just can’t be immobile for the hours and days needed to heal completely.

The injuries that you experience in your back that cause pain aren’t always as severe as a car accident or when lifting incredibly heavy objects, although of course those are typical problems as well.

Here are some typical examples of actual injuries to the back that can cause pain long-term:

* Overuse of the back muscles. - This can be from a job or hobby that uses the back muscles repeatedly, such as working in the construction trades, loading or unloading objects, and activities such as bowling or golfing.  Repeated use of the back muscles actually causes injury over time.  Think of lifting weights - you feel the pain in your arms when you’re at the gym and you know to quit, but when you’re on the job or out playing that beloved round of golf you often ignore those simple aches and pains that mean injury to those small muscles.
* Jarring from traffic stops and starts - Even if you’re not technically in a traffic accident, slamming on your brakes means that the back must work suddenly and swiftly to protect the body from careening forward.  This sudden stopping and starting makes the back work overtime in a way it’s not designed to work, which means injury.
* Overextending the back muscles from twisting side to side. - These very small muscles that are located up and down the sides of the abdomen and rib cage are very susceptible to injury this way; when they’re overextended they are actually injured.
* Carrying weight. - Carrying a very heavy backpack or even a purse puts unnecessary stress on the back. The muscles have to work hard and compensate the load and balance that this weight puts, and often strains happen without anyone even realizing it.
* Sudden stresses and strains. - How many times have you gone to hug a child only to have him or her suddenly lift their feet off the ground so that you’re carrying their entire weight when you didn’t expect it? Or have suddenly slipped or tripped and have had to catch yourself without thinking?  These types of sudden and unexpected stresses and strains can cause injury to your back as it’s not ready and prepared to handle these events.  The muscles can be tense and caught off guard which means they’re more prone to tiny tears and stresses.

As mention, many people simply don’t realize that injury has already happened to their back until later on in their life. The muscles have a tendency to knot up as a way to protect themselves from further injury and being knotted up in body may not necessarily allow the sensation of pain. Only when the muscles start to loosen up do we feel the pain and that we realize that something is wrong.

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