Back pain is a common problem affecting literally millions of people. It can range from minor, temporary pain, to sustained pain in different parts of the back, neck or shoulders or involve the pinching of nerves, affecting the legs or arms.

The causes of back pain vary and can often be a combination of factors. Some of the factors identified by practitioners are set out below.

Sprains and strains An out-of-condition back or one with pre-existing problems is more vulnerable to soft tissue injuries like sprains and strains. A sprain isa joint injury that involves stretching or tearing of the ligaments.

A strainisan injury to muscle or tendons. Stretching a ligament or muscle too quickly can result in a tear. Excessive force and certain repetitive use may also damage muscles.

Disc problems The intervertebral discs are the cushions between our vertebrae. These discs dry out and harden with age, making them susceptible to injury. Common disc complaints involve the disc bulging (prolapse), herniating or even rupturing.

Most disc problems arise from sustained stress or injury and may be caused by back strain (such as when lifting).

Muscle Imbalance/Poor Posture Muscle imbalances often involve certain muscles losing their natural functioning and over-working or being under utilised. This can happen as a result of lifestyle stress and bad habits of body use over a sustained period. Muscle imbalance can lead to or work in tandem with bad posture to result in such back problems as chronic lower back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain or frozen shoulder.

Emotional/neuromuscular causes Sustained stress or emotional trauma can cause muscular tension to be “held” unconsciously in the body leading to back pain.  

Structural Problems Structural problems involving the spine can cause back pain. These include the following:

Scoliosis – an excessive sideways curve of either the upper or lower regions of the spine. Kyphosis – sometimes referred to as “hunchback”, this is an excessive outward curve of the upper back.

Disease Diseases that can affect the spine and cause back pain include:

Ankylosing spondylitis – a disease that causes inflammation in spinal joints and limb joints potentially leading to fusion of vertebrae Arthritis – especially osteoarthritis, involves cartilage that normally cushions joints breaking down. Osteoporosis – is a condition involving thinning of the bones. It commonly occurs in women after the menopause but can also affect men.

Sciatica

Sciatica is nerve pain from the sciatic nerve, a nerve that runs from the spine through the buttock and down the back of the leg. Sciatica is often caused by a disc bulge or prolapse pressing on the spinal nerve. Other causes can include a narrowing of the nerve tunnel between discs as a result of osteoarthritis.