Causes of back pain are numerous and often difficult to determine. The lower back is the most common area to experience pain due to its load-bearing function. Back pain causes vary and can include muscular injury, discogenic pain, arthritis and stenosis to name the most common factors of back pain that someone might experience.
Muscle Strain
Muscle spasms and strains are by far the most common causes of back pain. So common in fact that the American Medical Association cites muscular back pain as the number two cause of lost work days, second only to the common cold.
Causes of muscle spasm and strain can vary and include injury from lifting, poor posture or weakness in the hips and lower back. Many cases of muscle spasm and strain will resolve with no remaining issues but a small percentage of people suffer from recurring muscular pain that lingers after the initial event.
Disk Pain
A common cause of back pain, discogenic back pai,n results from a damaged intervebral disk. The disk is damaged causing pain and irritation to the surrounding structures in the back but the disk is not ruptured or herniated. Discogenic back pain usually occurs from slight tears in the outer ring of the disk or degeneration in the disks which is common with age. Spine biomechanical researcher Stuart McGill Ph.D. has cited in numerous studies that repetitive postures and positions, such as sitting contribute to degeneration of the disks along with age.
Arthritis
Arthritis can occur in any joint in the body and the spine is no different. Overuse, poor mechanics and muscle imbalances can all contribute to arthritic changes in the spine. Often bone spurs can form causing additional pain in the back. Age, obesity and previous injury can all contribute to arthritis in the spine.
Stenosis
Stenosis, a narrowing of the canal where the nerves exit the sine, will cause back pain. Degeneration of the spine, injury, poor mechanics and arthritis can all contribute to a narrowing at the spinal canals. Referred to stenotic pain, stenosis can cause back pain anywhere from centralized in the back to radiating down the leg. Often leaning forward or to the side will temporarily open the canal and alleviate the pain.
