Pulled a back muscle - how much physical activity?

I pulled a lower back muscle during post workout stretching last night. Ironic right - we stretch to avoid injury and instead I injure myself while stretching!

The pain is less today than it was last night - I can sit up without it hurting. It's more of a just a dull ache. I'm icing it intermittently and taking aleve.

So the question is - how much physical activity can I do? I normally walk 90 minutes a day, and go to the gym for an hour or so in the evening for either weight lifting or a cardio class. I'm going to avoid the gym until the pain goes away, but how about walking? Should I walk until it hurts? Walk until it aches and then stop? Not walk at all?

Replies

  • I say the same thing to everyone who posts about pain and what activities they can do.

    No one here can diagnose what happened to your back, nor can they provide you with beneficial advice. Their advice could actually hurt you more. You need to see a doctor to determine whether or not you can continue to do physical activity without causing serious harm to your body.