Low Back Sprains and Strains
Just like disc injuries, sprains and strains of the low back can come from either a single major trauma or smaller, repetitive microtrauma. Both sprains and strains involve tearing of the body tissues and is classified by a grade, usually 1-3. Grade 1 is mild and involves tearing of only a few fibers within the tissue. Grade 2 is a moderate injury that involves tearing up to 50% of the full tissue. A grade 3 injury represents total failure of the structure with more than 50% of the tissue being torn. Both sprains and strains can occur in the same type of way, but the two injuries heal very differently.
