Common causesTrusted Source of back pain include:
Strains and sprains
Strains are injuries to muscles or tendons, while sprains affect the ligaments. Examples of movements that could lead to one of these injuries include:
- pushing, pulling, lifting, or carrying something
- bending over
- twisting the spine abruptly
- coughing or sneezing
Other types of injury that can causeTrusted Source back pain include whiplash and fractures.
Learn the difference between a sprain and a strain.
Posture
Posture refers to how a person holds themselves when sitting or standing. Over time, some postures can leadTrusted Source to pain.
Examples of postures that may eventually cause pain include:
- forward head posture, which is when the head juts forward over the spine
- slouching, which involves sitting or standing with rounded shoulders
- hyperlordosis, which is when the hips tilt forward, arching the lower back
Everyday activities can also mean a person adopts an unhealthy posture for prolonged periods. Examples include:
- driving
- using a laptop or computer that is too low down
- sitting in chairs or on couches that do not support the back
- sleeping on an unsupportive mattress
Learn more about different types of posture.
Structural problems
Some structural problems of the spine may also result in back pain. These can includeTrusted Source:
- Ruptured disks: Disks cushion each vertebra in the spine. If the disk ruptures, it exerts more pressure on a nerve, resulting in back pain. Sometimes, this pain may travel through the buttock and down the back of a leg. This is known as sciatica.
- Bulging disks: Similarly, a disk that bulges from its place between the bones can put pressure on a nerve. Sometimes, this may also result in sciatica.
- Arthritis: Osteoarthritis can cause problems with the joints in the hips, lower back, and other areas of the body. Sometimes, the space around the spinal cord narrows. Health experts call this spinal stenosis.
- Osteoporosis: This causes the bones to become brittle and porous. When this leads to fractures, osteoporosis may cause back pain.
- Curvature of the spine: Back pain can occur if the spine curves too much. An example is scoliosis, in which the spine curves to the side.
Other causes
Other factors that may lead to back pain include:
- kidney stones
- menstrual cramps
- endometriosis
- pregnancy
- infections of the spine, bladder, kidneys, or reproductive system
- shingles, which lies dormant in nerves and can reactivate, causing a painful rash along the nerve path
- cauda equina syndrome
- cancer of the spine
