Struggling With Muscle Tightness

I spent all weekend gardening and now my back feels like a rock, super stiff and tight, and it’s starting to hurt more than usual. I’ve never really had this kind of soreness before and I’m curious if tight muscles can actually trigger back pain. Can you break down what symptoms I should watch for and why this happens?

Oh gardening really does a number on your back, been there! My neighbor spent one Saturday planting her whole yard and could barely stand up Sunday morning — turned out muscle tightness had actually pinched something.
Yes, tight muscles absolutely cause real back pain. They pull on your spine, restrict movement, cut off circulation. Watch for: stiffness that's worse in the morning, sharp pain when twisting, or tightness that spreads toward your hips. Stiff and tight muscles cause back pain symptoms explains the whole mechanism really well, worth a read!
Rest, stretch gently, heat pack helps too!