This is particularly prevalent for those who have a job that often requires them to lift heavy objects. “We see a lot of back pain is related to athletics and some of the jobs that people do,” she adds. In certain instances, back pain isn’t due to lack of activity, but the type of activities we do on a regular basis, says Dr. This often occurs when someone isn’t very physically active and has lost muscle tone and strength, and then attempts to complete a particularly difficult physical challenge.

The risk for a strained muscle can increase when a person’s muscles are “deconditioned,” says Dr. It’s very common for people to strain muscles and ligaments when they are lifting with improper form or moving a load that puts too much tension on the lower back. We’ve all heard the story of our friend who pulled something in their back trying to move the couch, or maybe you’ve experienced this yourself. While these postures aren’t inherently “poor” for a moment in time, maintaining these positions for prolonged periods can increase the strain on the muscles and ligaments around the lumbar spine. This doesn’t only mean slouching or slumping at your desk poor posture could also include leaning on one leg while you stand, or walking with your bottom farther out and you have an arch in your lower back. In a similar vein, poor posture can either cause lower back pain or make it worse. For example, when our bums remain glued to our seats for too long, we tend to slouch and underutilize the core muscles that support the lower back and decompress the spine. Some exercise physiologists suggest that it could be the way our muscles are activated (or deactivated) when we are sitting. “And there is not yet clear evidence about what role sedentary behavior plays in chronic low back pain.” “There is a lot of interest in better understanding the effects of ‘sedentary behavior’ in medicine,” says Dr. However, the exact reasons as to why this is the case is not obvious. Unfortunately, such a sedentary lifestyle can increase your risk of chronic low back pain, disability, and mortality, says Stacey Popko, M.D., a pediatrician, internist, and overseer of guideline development for ambulatory care at MCG. Many of us spend the majority of our waking hours in the same sitting position, thanks to jobs that require us to be in front of our computers all day. Common causes of lower back pain Sedentary lifestyles To help you determine what could be going on to trigger your lower back pain, we talked to experts from MCG Health physicians who told us both common and rare causes of back pain and when your discomfort warrants medical attention. With all the various factors that can cause us to bend over in agony, it can be tricky to identify the exact root of our pain. So when one of these parts (whether muscular, skeletal, or neurological) is out of whack, you may experience aches, stiffness, numbness, and an inability to do normal, everyday activities. And the spine itself-which is made up of 24 small bones (vertebrae) that are each cushioned by gel-like cushions called discs-is also comprised of many pieces. There are many muscles, ligaments, and tendons that work together to help move, stabilize, and protect the spine. The way we move-lifting bags from the floor, bending over to tie our shoes-and the ways we don’t move-sitting, standing, sleeping-often influence our lower back health.

“My dog doesn’t get back pain! So for us, the lower back is a vulnerable spot in our bodies just by the mechanics of it.” When developed into upright, walking beings, they started to bear more of their weight in the lumbar region-the second lowest region of the spine.“When you go from four to two legs, you’re putting a lot more strain on the lower back,” adds Dr. One theory as to why this is so common is rooted in our skeletal design, says William Rifkin, M.D., an internist who oversees guideline development for acute patient care at MCG Health.

In fact, experts estimate that 80% of Americans will experience some sort of back pain in their lifetime, while research says lower back pain, specifically, is the fifth most common reason for all primary care visits. Most people have own frustrating tale about lower back pain, or will at some point.

Middle back pain