Running is an activity that involves repetitive stress and impact, sometimes for a long duration. People who have an underlying lower back problem can find running or jogging makes their pain worse or leads to additional types of pain, such as sciatica (leg pain, weakness, or numbness).

When running or jogging leads to more or additional back pain, it is important to know when to seek treatment and what types of treatment to expect.

Watch Dynamic Warm-Up for Running with Low Back Pain Video

Common Lower Back Injuries for Runners

Lower back pain often comes on quickly, after bending or lifting the wrong way, or perhaps after running too far before warming up.

Lower back pain comes in many different varieties, the most benign of which is muscular strains and pains. It is characterized by lower back muscle spasm and pain that is centralized in the lower back. This type of pain does not travel into the buttock or legs (radiating pain is known as sciatica, or radiculopathy).

See Lower Back Muscle Strain Symptoms

advertisement

Self-Care for Low Back Muscle Strain

Low back pain brought on by muscle strain is best treated by a variety of self care techniques, and perhaps stopping the running for a week or so as those symptoms resolve. Effective ways to relieve lower back pain caused by muscle strain usually include one or a combination of the following:

This type of pain will often improve over the course of one to three weeks just by activity restriction.

Running and Damaged Discs in the Back

A more problematic form of lower back pain for runners is low back pain related to structural problems in the lower back, such as:

The disc is the shock absorber of the lower back. When running or jogging, the repetitive impact on the spine puts stress on the disc. If one already has a damaged disc, the repetitive stress that can lead to increasing symptoms. Runners who find that they have consistent and steady lower back pain after a workout should consider getting a thorough evaluation by a spine physician.

Dr. Sean McCance is an orthopedic surgeon in New York City and has been practicing spine surgery for more than 20 years. He serves as Co-Director of Spine Surgery at the Mount Sinai Hospital and Director of Spine Associates, a private practice where he specializes in complex reconstructive spine surgery.

advertisement
advertisement