The basketball layup is valued as an easy shot when defenders are not nearby. You simply spring up and shoot with your right hand if you are next to the basket on the right — or bounce the ball off the backboard and into the basket with your left hand if you are on that side. The opposite foot serves as your spring, so a right-side layup launches from the left foot. While considered a simple way to score points, it is possible to suffer strain in your lower back when doing a layup.

If you overstretch during your layup this can cause a spasm, strain or sprain in one of your back’s ligaments or muscles. Suffering a strain in your lower back makes it difficult to play basketball because this region of your back supports the weight of your upper body. In some cases when you place too much strain on your back, a disc in your back may rupture or bulge, a condition sometimes referred to as a herniated disc. This, in turn, can place pressure on one of over 50 nerves that are rooted to your spinal cord. This compression or irritation causes back pain. Most herniated discs occur in the lower, or lumbar, portion of your back.

Simple low back strain that results from overstretching during a layup most often is treated without surgery, and the prognosis for recovering without losing any function in your back is good, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, or NINDS. In fact, in many cases self-care will take care of the problem. Use an ice pack on the painful area as soon as possible when you suffer back strain. Apply ice several times daily for up to 20 minutes each time. After two to three days of icing, apply heat for

brief time frames. This relaxes your muscles and increases blood flow. Avoid all exercise during the first few days, but minimize or avoid bed rest if possible because this may actually worsen your pain and reduce flexibility. When you sleep, use either a curled-up position with a pillow between your legs or, if sleeping on your back, place a pillow under your knees. Consult your doctor before taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications or using topical analgesics, especially if you take medication or have a health condition. Seek medical attention if your pain and inflammation are not noticeably better within 72 hours or if you have other symptoms including weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, a fever or weight loss.

If self-care resolves your low back strain due to a layup, don’t jump back onto the basketball court immediately. Gradually resume your exercise regimen, and avoid activities like layups, twisting or heavy lifting that involve your back for six weeks. Instead, start out with light cardiovascular activity like swimming, walking or riding a stationary bike. Begin exercising within two to three weeks of suffering your back strain.

If your low back pain is caused by more than simple strain, such as a herniated disc, your treatment plan is likely to be complex. Repeatedly hyperextending your lower back, which is common when playing basketball, puts a great deal of stress on your spinal column. This can lead to problems even more complex than strain and herniated discs, such as stress fractures in your vertebrae. Your age, the number of discs or vertebrae involved, your symptoms and your response to treatment are all factors that your health care providers will take into account.