From a simple strain to more serious chronic pain, research has suggested that almost 80% of people will experience some kind of back pain throughout the course of their lives. While for some people, back pain is little more than discomfort or an inconvenience, for others it can be seriously debilitating, affecting all aspects of their lives.
Some cases of back pain originate from injury, accidents or organic medical conditions such as arthritis or fracture. However, the most common cause of back pain is stress to the joints and back muscles – Stress which accumulates over time, and from day-to-day activities, rather than in one single incident.
Day-to-day causes of a chronic sore back:
- poor posture while sitting or standing
- incorrect bending and lifting procedures
- sleeping incorrectly or in unnatural positions
- sitting down frequently and for long periods of time
- frequently twisting the body into an uncomfortable position (such as during exercise or sports)
Many people are prone to back pain due to the fact that our lower backs support a lot of our body weight, and rely heavily on the strength of the vertebrae in our spine. If the spine is incorrectly aligned, this can cause areas of weakness, which places further pressure on the spinal cord and can result in irritation of spinal nerves, or even bulging discs.
Even if your back pain does not seem serious, or subsides after a few days, it is important not to ignore it. Pain may be an indicator of more serious underlying condition like disc bulge, sciatica or scoliosis, which can all cause permanent damage to the spine if left untreated.
