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Here's what you need to know about pulled lower back muscles, similar injuries, and when to see a doctor.
Your back muscles extend from the bones of your neck (cervical vertebrae) to your lower back (lumbar spine) and then to the base of your lumbar spine (sacrum) and tailbone (coccyx). Some of these muscles are quite large and cover broad areas, e.g. large areas of the trunk.
Compared to many other kinds of back injuries, a pulled muscle is usually straightforward to diagnose and easy to treat, and symptoms usually resolve within 4 to 6 weeks. Some severe muscle injuries, such as a complete muscle tear, can take months to heal.
Minor injuries may only overstretch a muscle or tendon, while more severe injuries may involve partial or complete tears in these tissues. Sometimes called pulled muscles, strains commonly occur in the lower back and in the muscles at the back of the thigh (hamstrings).
WebMD's low back pain slideshow explains the most common causes of low back pain and what you can do to help alleviate it.
Your back muscles help control your posture, let you move and help you breathe. They start at your neck, run down your spine and end just above your hips. Having occasional back pain or stiffness is normal, but visit a provider if you experience pain that lasts more than a week.
Pulling a muscle in the lower back can be very painful. Learn about the causes of a lumbar strain and how to treat and prevent this injury.