Back pain: It can strike suddenly or sneak up on you after a long period of wear and tear. Considering it’s the second most common health complaint doctors hear after headaches, back problems are likely to happen to you sometime during your life. (1)

If you’ve ever hoisted a squirming toddler or forgotten your form during a deadlift, I’ve got a feeling you know what it’s like to pull a back muscle. What we call a “pulled” muscle in the back actually refers to one of two different injuries:

A pulled muscle in your lower back, upper back, or neck is uncomfortable and can be inconvenient, especially if you are an athlete or lead an active life.