# Do I just have a weak muscle? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 13, 2009, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-just-have-a-weak-muscle/493005 "2009-04-13T22:53:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![happywaffle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ee59a6/32.png) [@happywaffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happywaffle)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2009, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-just-have-a-weak-muscle/493005/1 "2009-04-13T22:53:22Z")
I have a particular muscle running down the right side of the top of my spine, extending to the base of my neck, that is my perpetual weak spot. Three or four times a year I manage to pull it, and I’m subjected to three or four days of ouchies and stiff movement until it heals again. Wash, rinse, repeat. I’ve been doing awesome at hitting the gym lately, though, and being sure to work my back as well as my front. “Strengthening the core” and all that. And yet, the other night, I was walking down the hall at my house and had a heavy sneeze. Sure enough, _silent pop_ and yowch, it’s pulled again. Crap. What’s the deal? Is my muscle just defective? Can I order a new one from the dealer? ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2009, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-just-have-a-weak-muscle/493005/2 "2009-04-13T22:57:32Z")
Is there a particular movement which aggravates it? Aside from sneezing 😃 ---
**Author:** ![happywaffle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ee59a6/32.png) [@happywaffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happywaffle)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2009, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-just-have-a-weak-muscle/493005/3 "2009-04-13T23:02:29Z")
Not in particular, no - it’s happened while sneezing, reaching into the pantry, or (most often) while I’m sleeping. I do pay close attention to my sleep posture but can’t seem to prevent it from happening. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2009, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-just-have-a-weak-muscle/493005/4 "2009-04-13T23:10:13Z")
The original injury probably never fully healed, leaving it vulnerable. Try shoulder shrugs and a weighted neck harness to work the muscles in that area. START VERY,VERY LIGHT AND WORK VERY CAREFULLY!!! The first objective is to get extra blood flow through the injured area and working the muscles very lightly to stimulate healing. ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2009, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-just-have-a-weak-muscle/493005/5 "2009-04-13T23:15:55Z")
Do you perform a lot of upright rows? They cause a lot of funny problems, bursitis, neck issues, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2009, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-just-have-a-weak-muscle/493005/6 "2009-04-14T01:34:08Z")
I work out a lot and I can tell you once you pull your back it’s never gonna be quite the same. And oddly enough I found that you can really wrench again by doing simple movements. I first pulled my back in 1995 and I let it heal for a week, but I, stupidly, didn’t let it heal enough and started working out again. Bad idea. It feels fine but so far three times I have managed to pull it so it hurts A LOT and it was always doing simple things. For instance one time I just turned, and that was it. I turned while sitting and my back was like wrench. Another time I did the same movement I swear I’ve always done while doing a curl for my bicep and boom it went out. And these were with light weights. The key is stretches for your back. I don’t think they help it heal really but they do relieve the pain. Get a book on stretching to heal your back and do those exercises. I was amazed at how much it help. Ice helps too for the pain. It’s been my experience once you pull a back muscle it’s never _quite_ the same. That doesn’t mean it won’t heal, like right now I could easily do any back exercise, but I think once you wrench it, it makes it much easier to do again ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2009, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-just-have-a-weak-muscle/493005/7 "2009-04-14T02:10:06Z")
Keep in mind that a weird issue like that, where you have pain from mundane tasks like reaching, could very well be a pinched nerve as opposed to a pulled muscle. They take forever to heal and feel like tension or tightness, much like a pulled muscle. Based on your description of the location that seems more likely than a pulled muscle. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2009, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-just-have-a-weak-muscle/493005/8 "2009-04-14T03:28:43Z")
Your doctor can probably prescribe you some physical therapy, which could target the affected area more specifically. ---
**Author:** ![smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smoke)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2009, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-just-have-a-weak-muscle/493005/9 "2009-04-14T13:26:54Z")
I was having the exact same issue as you- always pulling the same spot in my back, even when babying it with lower weights. I was lucky enough to find a good chiropractor (referred by a trainer at the gym) who practiced what is called the [Graston Technique](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graston_Technique). Basically, he used this metal instrument to almost squeegee down my back muscles. Supposedly, it helps break up adhesions from old injuries that healed improperly. I went a few days a week for a few weeks, and between Graston, some electrical stimulus, and daily stretching, my back pull went away. I go once every 6 or so weeks now, and haven’t had a pull in over a year. Now, in my experience, chiropractors’ quality and legitimacy vary widely. I know they get a bad rap with some people, but finding this one saved my butt. I’ve had others that were obvious quacks, but this guy is really good. Good luck with your back problem- I know what a bummer they can be! ---
**Author:** ![smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smoke)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2009, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-just-have-a-weak-muscle/493005/10 "2009-04-14T13:48:28Z")
> [@HongKongFooey](#): > > Do you perform a lot of upright rows? They cause a lot of funny problems, bursitis, neck issues, etc. I agree with **HongKongFooey**. There are two exercises I don’t do: upright rows and behind the neck presses. Both lend themselves too readily to impingements and other funky issues. YMMV, I’m no trainer. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2009, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-just-have-a-weak-muscle/493005/11 "2009-04-14T14:02:45Z")
It’s inflammation. Something isn’t healed and is inflamed…and chronically. Do you like hot showers after working out? They make it worse. Feels good, but what you should do is take an anti-inflammatory, ice it and get some advice on the type of exercises that are likely to keep the area inflamed and back off a bit. “Muscle pulls” sound like a nice diagnosis, but I don’t think that is any kind of diagnosis at all. Get one. Upright rows are being discarded, certain other types of exercises are being tossed out as issues, and I just think that is fool hardy advice. Get a diagnosis before you proceed. The fact that you call it a pulled muscle and how everyone is chiming in with exercise tips screams for you to get a diagnosis and make this go 'round an acute case you are going to tackle objectively. ---
**Author:** ![HorseloverFat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8e8cbc/32.png) [@HorseloverFat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HorseloverFat)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2009, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-just-have-a-weak-muscle/493005/12 "2009-04-14T14:27:55Z")
I get this from sneezing too, but not that particular muscle. From what I read sneezing is such a jarring thing that is can really hurt people. Most of the time nothing happens but sometimes we manage to hurt a tendon or muscle. That said, it can sometimes be a sign of something else like [chiari malformation](http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/chiari-malformation/DS00839). Probably a good idea to mention this to a doctor next time you get a check up. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2009, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-just-have-a-weak-muscle/493005/13 "2009-04-14T17:52:44Z")
There’s also the possibility that your workouts aren’t actually working that muscle, which could make things worse if you’re strengthening nearby muscles instead and making things even more imbalanced.