The Common Causes of Low Back Pain
By Sara Butler
The chances are pretty good that one day you will experience low back pain. Eight out of 10 Americans will deal with back pain at some point in their lives, according to the American Chiropractic Association. Why does this happen? Here are the most common causes of low back pain and what you may be able to do in order to avoid them.
Sprains and Strains
When you have back pain that begins all of the sudden a sprain or strain is probably the culprit! When you get a sprain it means a muscle in your back has been stretched too far or a ligament was torn. Strains are tears in the muscle or tendon that have been put under too much stress over a period of time and have finally broken down.
Disc Degeneration
It’s an unfortunate byproduct of the aging process, but this mechanical cause of back pain is quite common in older people. It is the result of the discs between the bones in your spine losing their elasticity and ability to absorb shock. When the disc can no longer do its job, you're going to feel it.
Herniated Discs
This can happen to just about anyone. When the discs between the bones in your back are put under too much pressure they will protrude out from their place in the space between the bones in the spine and sometimes even rupture. If the disc compresses a nearby nerve root then it can cause an incredible amount of radiating pain called radiculopathy. Radiculopathy can cause pain, tingling or numbness in the leg on the affected side.
A form of radiculopathy is sciatica, and it’s a very common cause of lower back pain and leg pain. If a disc in your back protrudes or ruptures and puts pressure on your sciatic nerve then you will feel pain, burning and/or tingling in your buttocks and down the back of your leg -- sometimes even all the way to your toes.
Preventing Low Back Pain
Of course, seeing your chiropractor regularly can help to keep back pain at bay or treat back pain if you’re experiencing it. Your chiropractor will adjust you in order to keep your spine flexible and to correct any misalignments, but they may also recommend stretching exercises to help you.
Another thing you can do to try and help avoid low back pain is to remember correct form when you’re lifting. Never lift with your back, but keep it straight and use the power of your hips and legs to lift by making sure you bend at your knees.
If you have other questions about low back pain and how you can avoid it, or you are experiencing low back pain, talk to your chiropractor about it during your next visit to The Joint Chiropractic.