Should I see a chiropractor for a pulled back muscle?
If you’ve pulled a back muscle, you should see your chiropractor. Here’s why it’s a smart move…
Living an active lifestyle in New York City means you're constantly on the go—whether you're running through Central Park, hitting the gym for strength training, or pushing yourself in sports. While staying active is great for your overall health, it also means you're at risk of occasional injuries—like a pulled back muscle. And when it happens, it can derail your fitness goals and throw off your daily routine.
But should you see a chiropractor for a pulled back muscle? The short answer is: yes, and here's why.
What Happens When You Pull a Back Muscle?
A pulled back muscle, also known as a muscle strain, occurs when the fibers in a muscle are overstretched. This typically happens when you push your body too hard, lift something incorrectly, or perform repetitive movements without proper rest.
Back muscles play a critical role in stabilizing your body, supporting your spine, and allowing you to move efficiently. When one of these muscles becomes strained, it can cause pain, stiffness, and limited mobility. You may feel a sharp pain when you move in a certain way or a dull ache when at rest. This injury can affect your ability to work out, run, or even perform everyday tasks like bending over to tie your shoes or leaning over the sink to brush your teeth
Why See a Chiropractor for a Pulled Back Muscle?
Many people immediately turn to rest, ice, or pain relievers when they pull a muscle in their back, and while those things can help manage symptoms, they don’t address the root cause of the injury. Chiropractors, however, are trained to identify and treat musculoskeletal injuries, offering a comprehensive approach that goes beyond symptom management.
Here are a few reasons why seeing a chiropractor for a pulled back muscle is a great decision:
1. Comprehensive Assessment of the Spine and Muscles
A chiropractor’s job isn’t just to treat the pain; they look at the entire musculoskeletal system. When you see a chiropractor for a pulled back muscle, they’ll assess not just the affected muscle, but also the range of motion of the joints of your body.
Limited joint movement, poor posture, or underlying muscular weakness in other parts of the body—like your hips, shoulders, or pelvis—can all contribute to or exacerbate back muscle strains.
For example, if you have poor posture or weak core muscles, your back muscles are likely compensating for these imbalances. A chiropractor can identify these issues and work to restore proper alignment, which helps reduce the risk of future strains and ensures a faster recovery.
2. Pain Relief Without Medication
While pain relievers can temporarily ease discomfort, they don’t actually promote healing or prevent future injury. Chiropractors use natural, hands-on techniques to help alleviate pain, such as adjustments to the spine/joints of the body and soft tissue therapies. These techniques aim to improve circulation, reduce inflammation, and promote tissue healing—without relying on medication.
Spinal adjustments can be particularly helpful if the pulled muscle is caused by or contributing to movement restrictions in your spine. By correcting any movement restrictions, the chiropractor can restore proper movement patterns, reduce muscle tension, and relieve pain in the affected area.
3. Rehabilitation Exercise Programming
One of the most important parts of chiropractic care for a pulled back muscle is rehabilitation. Chiropractors will often develop a personalized exercise program to help strengthen the muscles that support your spine and improve your flexibility. This rehabilitation approach not only accelerates recovery but also reduces the likelihood of reinjury.
The rehab exercises may include:
Strengthening exercises for the core and back muscles to provide better support and stability
Stretching routines to improve flexibility and restore range of motion
Postural exercises to ensure your body is aligned properly and doesn’t place unnecessary strain on your back
Movement retraining to help you adopt healthier movement patterns in daily activities, reducing stress on the back muscles
By strengthening and conditioning the muscles around your spine, chiropractors can help prevent future injuries and optimize your athletic performance.
4. Soft Tissue Techniques
Chiropractors use various soft tissue therapies to treat muscle strains, targeting the tight areas and helping to relax the muscles. These therapies can include:
Cupping Therapy: This traditional therapy uses small cups placed on the skin to create a vacuum effect, drawing the skin and muscles upward. This can help increase blood flow to the area, reduce muscle tightness, and promote faster healing by improving circulation and relieving muscle tension.
Myofascial Release: A technique that targets the fascia (the connective tissue surrounding muscles) to release tension and improve blood flow.
Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM): A method where specialized tools are used to apply precise pressure to the affected area, breaking up muscle knots and improving circulation.
These techniques help reduce pain, increase range of motion, and promote faster healing of the injured muscle.
5. Prevention of Future Injuries
A pulled back muscle might be a result of poor posture, weakness in supporting muscles, or previous injuries. Chiropractors don't just focus on the current injury—they also focus on preventing future issues. After treating the immediate strain, a chiropractor will work with you on:
Correcting any biomechanical issues (e.g., alignment, posture, gait)
Strengthening muscles that may have become weak or overworked
Educating you on injury prevention through proper techniques during exercise and daily activities
For active individuals, this is crucial—especially if you're someone who runs, lifts, or participates in physical activity regularly. Chiropractors can help you develop an injury prevention plan that ensures you're doing everything to protect your back and body.
When Should You See a Chiropractor for a Pulled Back Muscle?
If you’ve pulled a muscle in your back, there’s no need to wait until the pain becomes unbearable. In fact, the sooner you see a chiropractor, the better. Early intervention can help:
Minimize the intensity and duration of your symptoms
Prevent compensation patterns that can lead to other musculoskeletal issues
Speed up your recovery process and get you back to your regular activities faster
However, if you experience more severe symptoms such as numbness, tingling, or loss of bladder/bowel control, you should seek immediate medical attention, as these could indicate a more serious condition.
Takeaway: Chiropractic Care for a Pulled Back Muscle - Where to Find A Chiro in NYC
Active New Yorkers know that an injury, no matter how small, can significantly impact their ability to live their best life. If you’ve pulled a muscle in your back, seeing a chiropractor can help you recover more quickly, avoid future injuries, and even improve your performance.
Chiropractors offer a holistic approach that targets the root causes of your injury, incorporating manual therapies, rehabilitation exercises, and postural corrections to get you back on track. And because chiropractic care is non-invasive and drug-free, it’s an ideal treatment for those who prefer natural healing methods.
If you're dealing with a pulled back muscle and want to get back to your routine faster, consider visiting our office in Manhattan. I’d love to guide you through a recovery plan that restores your strength and helps prevent further injury—so you can keep doing what you love, pain free.
Get started by booking a free consult call or contacting us today.
