Question
Hello,

I do wrestling training, recently in training while doing a body slam I felt a pain is my back as I arched backwards lifting someone in the air. Later as I went home it got slightly worse. The next day was no better. I can bend forward fine and stand up straight, it's just when I go to arch or stretch backwards it is painful and very uncomfortable(only in the lower back). Is there anyway to tell if it is just a strained muscle or something more severe?

Thanks

Answer
Hi Camille,

It sounds like you have irritated the facet joints in your lumbar spine and/or the sacroiliac joints. Generally speaking, if you bend backward and there is pain in your low back and relief when you bend forward, you can pretty well assume that you have a joint irritation. Couple that with the way you injured it by arching while lifting and you have a joint injury. I'm pretty sure there are some strained muscles too just because you cannot have a joint strain without a muscle involvement. Having said this, you should be resting the area and icing the area if you are still in acute pain. Otherwise do a combination of ice for 20 minutes followed with heat for 20 minutes. As the back pain improves, begin to add in light stretching for the low back without arching the back. Typical back strain should resolve in 2-4 weeks depending on activity levels. So make sure you control your wrestling activity levels in the meantime. I would also recommend some chiropractic, massage, passive physiotherapy if needed. If symptoms persist beyond a month or rest and care, an MRI or xray can be done to check for structural damage. Hope that helps and feel free to follow up anytime.