Back muscles

The back consists of large, complex muscles that support your trunk and spine. There are many types of back muscles, and they are all essential, helping you walk, bend, twist, and hold your body upright. Unfortunately, the muscles in your back are also prone to injury, and back pain is one of the most common reasons people go to see their doctor. Knowing about the different muscles in your back, how they work, and what you can do to strengthen them will help keep this critical muscle group healthy. What Are Back Muscles? Back muscles are skeletal muscles made up of tiny elastic fibers bound tightly together. They are part of the musculoskeletal system, which includes your bones, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, joints, muscles, and tissue — all working together to allow you to move. Where Are Your Back Muscles Located? There are many muscles in your back. They start slightly below your skull, cover your shoulders, and extend across the back and down to your upper hips. Many back muscles also connect to your ribs, the bones that support your spine, your shoulder blades, and your neck. How Many Back Muscles Are There? There are a total of 40 muscles in the back, consisting of 20 muscle pairs. This number can vary slightly depending on which muscles you count, though. For example, the serratus posterior superior and the serratus posterior inferior are two back muscles that are also key to helping you breathe, so they can also be counted as accessory or respiratory muscles. What...

Medioimages / Photodisc / Getty Images Anatomy of Back Muscles Your back consists of three distinct layers of muscles, namely the superficial layer, the intermediate layer, and the deep layer. These layers of back muscles help to mobilize and stabilize your trunk during your day to day activities. They also attach your shoulders and pelvis to the trunk, creating a bridge between your upper body and lower body. Serratus posterior superior originates from cervical seven through thoracic three and courses out to ribs two through five. The inferior serratus posterior originates from thoracic 11 through lumbar level three and attaches at ribs nine through 12. Both serratus posterior muscles are innervated by the intercostal nerves. Your multifidus muscles originate from your sacrum, iliac spine, lumbar vertebrae, and transverse processes of thoracic and cervical vertebrae. Each bundle of fibers ascends two to four vertebral levels, attaching on the spinous process above. Multifidus muscles are innervated by the posterior rami of spinal nerves. • Trapezius: Your traps serve to elevate your shoulders. The middle and lower trapezius function to retract your shoulders, pulling them backward. • Rhomboids: The rhomboids serve to retract and stabilize your shoulder blades. • Latissimus dorsi: Your latissimus functions to extend and medially rotate your upper arm bone. They also help stabilize your low back when your arm is in a fixed weight-bearing position. • Erector spinae: The erec...

There are three major groups of back • Superficial: attached to the • Intermediate: attached to the posterior • Deep: attached to the vertebral column, also known as the intrinsic muscle group These groups serve to allow: flexion/extension, rotation, and side bending of the back; movement of the limbs; Additional terminology • The superficial and intermediate muscle groups (or extrinsic muscles) are also called immigrant muscles, since they actually represent muscles of the upper limb that have migrated to the back during fetal development. • The deep/intrinsic back muscles, are also called true back muscles. They are located deep to the extrinsic muscles, being separated from them by the Physiotherapy Relevance • A good understanding of the back muscle anatomy is critical for correct diagnosis and treatment. Generalized Superficial Group [ | ] • • • The transversospinalis muscles group runs obliquely and medially from the transverse process of the vertebra below to the spinous process, filling the groove on either side of the spinous process These muscles assist in bending the back posteriorly when contracted bilaterally. When unilateral contraction occurs, they are responsible for assisting with lateral bending and rotation Nerves [ | ] Nervous supply to the intrinsic/deep back primarily arises from dorsal rami of the spinal nerves, providing sensation the skin of the back, and the deep muscles of the back. This innervation is in contrast to the extrinsic muscles of the ...

Avoid a ‘push past your pain limit’ mentality when stretching. Listen to your body. This will help continue to support your body and ultimately lead to a calmer nervous system. And do take special care when stretching during pregnancy. The hormones supporting your pregnancy could lead to overstretching or injury. Talk to your healthcare provider about any questions you have. Some effective back stretches include: • Knees-to-chest backstretch • Supine twist back stretch • Prone bridging back stretch • Supine abdominal draw-in back stretch • Supine butt lift back stretch • Cat-cow back stretch • Seated forward curl back stretch • Side stretch This article teaches you how to do each of these back exercises correctly and safely. Collectively, they work all of the major back muscles so you can support a healthy back, ease bdibdus To perform the knees-to-chest back stretch: • Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. • Place your hands on the back of your thighs or below your knees and pull your legs toward your chest. • Pull until you feel a gentle stretch. • Hold for 15 seconds. • Return to the starting position. • Repeat 9 more times. Supine spinal twist. cirkoglu To do the supine twist back stretch: • Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. • Keeping your back flat on the floor, rotate your hips to the left, lowering your legs down to the floor until you feel a gentle stretch. • Hold for 15 seconds. • Return to the start...

Having good posture is about more than looking good. It helps you to develop strength, flexibility, and balance in your body. These can all lead to less muscle pain and more energy throughout the day. Proper posture also reduces stress on your muscles and ligaments, which can reduce your risk of injury. Improving your posture also helps you become more aware of your muscles, making it easier to correct your own posture. As you work on your posture and become more aware of your body, you might even notice some imbalances or areas of tightness you weren’t previously aware of. Read on to learn how to do 12 exercises that’ll help you stand a little taller. Share on Pinterest This resting pose stretches and lengthens your spine, To do this: • Sit on your shinbones with your knees together, your big toes touching, and your heels splayed out to the side. • Fold forward at your hips and walk your hands out in front of you. • Sink your hips back down toward your feet. If your thighs won’t go all the way down, place a pillow or folded blanket under them for support. • Gently place your forehead on the floor or turn your head to one side. • Keep your arms extended or rest them along your body. • Breathe deeply into the back of your rib cage and waist. • Relax in this pose for up to 5 minutes while continuing to breathe deeply. Share on Pinterest This standing stretch releases tension in your spine, hamstrings, and glutes. It also stretches your hips and legs. While doing this stretch...

It’s typically a symptom of something else. A herniated disc, for example, can cause sciatic nerve compression or inflammation. It’s also one of the most common reasons for this type of radiating nerve pain. Other conditions that may cause sciatica include: • Degenerative disc disease • Muscle tightness, such as piriformis syndrome • • • • Trauma • Tumors • Diagnosis To diagnose what may be causing painful back spasms, healthcare providers will take your medical history. They'll also ask you to describe the pain and any other symptoms you're having. Healthcare providers often treat back pain using a combination of therapies. Combining different treatments such as physical therapy and steroid injections may provide better results. Coping While painful back spasms can disrupt your everyday activities, it’s possible to live with back pain. Some strategies that may help you cope and recover from back pain include: • Minimizing the amount of time you spend sitting • Maintaining good posture while sitting and standing • Having good form when lifting heavy objects or exercising • Sleeping on a comfortable, supportive mattress • Avoiding sleeping on your stomach • Strengthening your back and abdominal muscles • Exercising, avoiding high-impact activities or movements that strain the back • Warming up before starting a workout with dynamic stretches A chiropractor may be able to help you with your back spasms and pain. However, it’s essential to see a healthcare provider first. Som...

Lower back pain, sometimes called lumbago, is not a specific disease diagnosis. It’s a symptom of several different types of medical problems. It usually results from a problem with one or more parts of the lower back, such as: • ligaments and muscles • discs • intervertebral discs • nerves • the bony structures that make up the spine, called vertebral bodies or vertebrae It can also be due to a problem with nearby organs, such as the According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, In 90 percent of all cases, the pain gets better without surgery. Talk with a doctor if you’re experiencing back pain. Many people will not need extensive treatment for back pain. Over-the-counter In more severe cases, stronger treatments may be necessary, but they’re typically provided under close supervision from your doctor. Medication The majority of back pain episodes • • Analgesics, such as Be careful with medications like Never take more than the recommended dose of over-the-counter medications without a doctor’s recommendation, as even these medications may have severe side effects if taken incorrectly. Other medication options Topical rubs and ointments Topical products may be highly effective at reducing back pain. Many of these contain ingredients like ibuprofen and lidocaine and come in the form of: • gels • lotions • creams • patches • sprays Muscle relaxants Antidepressants If your back pain is severe, your doctor may prescribe Steroid injections Your doctor might a...

Lower back pain is very common. It can result from a strain (injury) to muscles or tendons in the back. Other causes include arthritis, structural problems and disk injuries. Pain often gets better with rest, physical therapy and medication. Reduce your risk of low back pain by keeping at a healthy weight and staying active. Overview What is lower back pain? Low back pain can result from many different injuries, conditions or diseases — most often, an injury to muscles or tendons in the back. Pain can range from mild to severe. In some cases, pain can make it difficult or impossible to walk, sleep, work or do everyday activities. Usually, lower back pain gets better with rest, pain relievers and physical therapy (PT). Cortisone injections and hands-on treatments (like osteopathic or chiropractic manipulation) can relieve pain and help the healing process. Some back injuries and conditions require surgical repair. How common is lower back pain? Around four out of five people have lower back pain at some point in their lives. It’s one of the most common reasons people visit healthcare providers. Some people are more likely to have lower back pain than others. Risk factors for lower back pain include: • Age: People over 30 have more back pain. Disks (soft, rubbery tissue that cushions the bones in the spine) wear away with age. As the disks weaken and wear down, pain and stiffness can result. • Weight: People have overweight/ • Overall health: Weakened abdominal muscles can’t...

The back anatomy includes the latissimus dorsi, trapezius, erector spinae, rhomboid, and the teres major. On this page, you’ll learn about each of these muscles, their locations and functional anatomy. Function of the Back Muscles There are several individual muscles within the back anatomy, and it’s important to take a quick look at all of them to see how you can target them effectively and develop a solid back. The image below to shows all the major back muscles (as well as some neck muscles): The back anatomy includes some of the most massive and functionally important muscles in the human body. Still, many individuals pay far too little attention to them. The back muscles enable you to stand up straight; support and protect your spine; and reach, pull and extend your arms and torso. Poorly developed back muscles lead to everything from muscle tweaks and pulls to imbalances of the musculature to the all-too-common hunched-over look (the “Neanderthal look”). All of these things can lead to long term back pain (and chronic complaining!). Luckily you’ve found this page to help you prevent would-be ailments. Latissimus Dorsi (Lats) The Once large enough, the lats are responsible for your body’s “V-taper” because of their protruding appearance under your armpit area and on the back of your ribs. And as you might guess, they are the back muscles most commonly targeted by lifters in the gym. However, many fail to give them the proper attention required to reach their full pote...

A spasm in your back muscles is a common type of back pain. They can be tiny twinges or crippling contractions. At-home treatments like ice and heat can help, as can muscle relaxants, massages, stretches and consistent exercise. Sometimes back spasms can be a sign of a serious disorder and you may need to see a healthcare provider right away. Overview What are back spasms? A How common are back spasms? Around 80% of people in the U.S. have had or will have some sort of back pain in their lives. Back spasms and other back pain are, unfortunately, common. How do back spasms start? Back spasms can start with no warning, or they may begin as a mild twitch that builds to agonizing pain. Who is more likely to get back spasms? Athletes, those who do heavy lifting and anyone with other types of back pain are more likely to experience back spasms. How do back spasms affect the rest of my body? Sometimes pain from a back spasm can “radiate.” This means that the pain starts in your back but moves to other parts of your body like your legs or hips. Are back spasms a sign of multiple sclerosis? No, but back spasms are a symptom of other serious diseases like Are back spasms a sign of labor? No. If you’re in labor you’ll feel the muscles in your uterus contract, not your back. But you may have back pain in your lower back as part of Symptoms and Causes What causes back spasms? There are a number of possible causes for back spasms: • Not using your muscles enough. If you sit too much, ha...