Chronic or persistent lower back pain can interfere with even the most mundane of daily activities. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, back pain is the second most common neurological ailment in the United States; only headache is more common. Causes related to lower back pain include weak abdominal muscles, prolonged sitting and injury.
Weak Abdominal Muscles
One cause of lower back pain is attributed to weak front abdominal muscles. According to the American Council on Exercise's "Personal Trainers Manual," the abdominal wall works to counter the pressure gravity puts on the lower back muscles. When the abdominal muscles are weak or poorly developed, the back tends to pick up the slack and as a consequence, suffers from the added work load. Much of this aggravation can be remedied by exercise and proper posture. As the abdominal muscles get stronger, it takes a lot less energy for them to stay contracted enough to help support the lower back, which is why many people notice a significant reduction in pain as they exercise.
Prolonged Sitting
Sitting for hours at a time without stretching or shifting positions can cause lower back pain. When we slouch, the muscles in the lower back are in a relaxed position. When the back muscles are relaxed, the vertebrae they are supposed to be supporting are vulnerable to injury and accelerated wear and tear. According to the American College of Sports Medicine's "Resources for the Personal Trainer," slouching when sitting can slowly degenerate the discs in your back and pushes them outward. This can cause injury in the form of spinal disc herniation, also known as a slipped disc. A slipped disc can swell outward enough to put pressure on nearby nerves sending pain down your leg. This condition is known as sciatica.
Injury
An article on back pain by the Mayo Clinic reports that the most common cause of back pain is a muscle strain or a ligament sprain. Strains and sprains can occur for many reasons including improper lifting, obesity and poor posture. Strains and sprains can also develop from lugging around a heavy handbag or sleeping at an awkward angle. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, pain can occur when someone lifts a heavy object or overstretches, causing a sprain, strain, or spasm in one of the muscles or ligaments in the lower back. If the spine becomes overly strained or compressed, a disc may rupture or bulge outward. This rupture may put pressure on nerves connected to the spinal cord that manage body movements and convey signals from the body to the brain. When these nerve connections become compressed or aggravated, back pain results.
References
- "American Council on Exercise Personal Trainers Manual"; Cedric X. Bryant; 2003
- "ACSM's Resources for the Personal Trainer"; American College of Sports Medicine; 2010
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Lower Back Pain
