The low back is made up of individual lumbar vertebrae that are designed to move and meet the vertebrae above and below at several joints. The lumbar spine offers support and stability to the rest of the body and is a common place for arthritis to occur, in part, because of the tremendous load that is carried there. Osteoarthritis (OA) can cause pain and stiffness in the low back and in later stages can lead to disc herniation, weakness, numbness and severe pain. There are many ways that arthritis can develop in the lower back.
Aging
Osteoarthritis is a wear-and-tear arthritis that is much more likely to be evident in people older than age 50. Age alone does not cause OA to occur, however. Rather, it is caused by a breakdown of the normal joint tissues due to excessive stress and strain. Older adults have had more time to develop the visible degenerative changes referred to as osteoarthritis.
Injury
An injury to the back from sports or an auto accident are likely to cause some biomechanical dysfunction in the spine or surrounding soft tissue. The extra stress on the joints that such dysfunctions cause will eventually lead to visible degeneration on an X-ray. Osteophytes or bone spurs are bony outgrowths that are the body's attempt to stabilize the joint. Proper professional care following any accident, regardless of severity, will ensure that your spine does not follow this pattern of break down.
Poor Posture
One of the primary causes of osteoarthritis in our society today is poor posture. Many individuals work at a computer or otherwise spend a tremendous amount of their day sitting. Poor posture puts stress and strain on muscles, ligaments and the joints, causing arthritis to progress. When sitting at the computer, be sure to sit up right off of the back of the chair with your shoulders back and head back over the shoulders. Get out of the chair every 30 minutes and stretch the back and neck and shoulders to restore blood flow and break the tension.
Obesity
According to John Hopkins Arthritis Center, overweight women have four times the chance of developing OA and men have a five times increased risk. Every pound of additional body weight puts much more stress and strain on overworked joints, causing them to quickly develop degenerative changes. Even modest weight loss can often greatly relieve back pain.
Chronic Illness
There are many chronic illnesses that can contribute to the formation of osteoarthritis such as diabetes, cancer, liver disease and gout. This occurs as these diseases can upset the hormonal balance that helps control the protein levels in cartilage.
