What Causes Back Pain?
Back pain is one of the few ailments which most Americans, and most people in the world, will have in common over the course of our lifetimes. In fact, studies suggest that 90% of the population of the United States of America will experience back pain at some point in their lives. Over 50% of those will have this experience more than once, with many indicating they have chronic, or recurring long time pain, particularly during the senior years.
That bck pain in seniors is of great concern for many medical professionals, because it points to one of the most alarming back pain statistics of all: the muscles of the back can sustain numerous strains over the course of a lifetime without slowing down the patient, but the effects of these injuries are cumulative. At some point, there will come a time when all of the injuries to the back will come back and may cause pain in an individual which lasts for the rest of his or her life, if left untreated.
Even individuals with pain which appears to leave often cannot point to one specific incident which caused the pain to arise in the first place. That's because back pain is really the pain receptors in your body telling you "enough" and that they have been abused one time too many. The belief is that over time, muscle strain leads to an imbalance in the whole structure of an individual's spine. As ligaments, muscles, discs, and bones are used in ways they were not before to compensate, the problem gets larger.
Obviously, the best way to deal with pain is to avoid it in the first place. But what are the most common causes of pain, and how can they be avoided? Let's take a look at a few.
Work
For many adults, the workplace is the area where the largest number of strains on the back will occur. There are a variety of ways in which back pain can be triggered no matter what type of work you are in, and we look at these in a separate article. Avoiding these common workplace dangers to the back is a huge step in keeping the muscles of your back in balance.
Lifestyle
Lifestyle is the second most common area in which back pain is likely to occur. This is a big one, because it affects people in all walks of life.
In fact, lifestyle is the number one cause of back pain in most people under the age of 30. At this age, individuals are much more likely to engage in behaviors which can be detrimental to their back health, such as high impact sports. At the same time, people in this age group are more reluctant to take measures which could prevent strain on their backs, including the use of safety equipment and "taking it easier" on the field.
Medical Conditions
A third category of back pain causing incidents includes all ongoing medical conditions. This category is fairly vast, and obviously may have some overlap with the two we mentioned above. For example, a person could sustain an injury after being tackled in football, or a fall at work. These and other impact type injuries (including car accidents) would fall under medical causes of back pain.
Also included in this category would be back pain arising from a number of different diseases or conditions. Spondylitis and other forms of arthritis, unhealthy organs, and even cancer are all known to cause back pain.
Stress, posture, and the psyche
Individuals experiencing stress will often feel it manifested in pressure point areas, including the head and the lower back.
Poor posture is also known to cause severe back pain. Sitting, standing, even walking and running in a manner that does not have the bones, muscles, and ligaments of the back properly lined up means adding pressure to your back.
Finally, pain in the back may be triggered by the mind itself. Studies have shown that back pain can actual be manifested in a patient after a car accident when seeking damages, as well as when seeking to avoid work.
The good news on pain is that in almost all cases, there are treatments available. The spine and its surrounding support systems is among the most durable of all our systems, and capable of quick recovery. Knowing the category of pain you are experiencing will help you as you look through your treatment options.
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An URGENT Message From Philadelphia’s Top Back Pain Expert…
That bck pain in seniors is of great concern for many medical professionals, because it points to one of the most alarming back pain statistics of all: the muscles of the back can sustain numerous strains over the course of a lifetime without slowing down the patient, but the effects of these injuries are cumulative. At some point, there will come a time when all of the injuries to the back will come back and may cause pain in an individual which lasts for the rest of his or her life, if left untreated.
Even individuals with pain which appears to leave often cannot point to one specific incident which caused the pain to arise in the first place. That's because back pain is really the pain receptors in your body telling you "enough" and that they have been abused one time too many. The belief is that over time, muscle strain leads to an imbalance in the whole structure of an individual's spine. As ligaments, muscles, discs, and bones are used in ways they were not before to compensate, the problem gets larger.
Obviously, the best way to deal with pain is to avoid it in the first place. But what are the most common causes of pain, and how can they be avoided? Let's take a look at a few.
Work
For many adults, the workplace is the area where the largest number of strains on the back will occur. There are a variety of ways in which back pain can be triggered no matter what type of work you are in, and we look at these in a separate article. Avoiding these common workplace dangers to the back is a huge step in keeping the muscles of your back in balance.
Lifestyle
Lifestyle is the second most common area in which back pain is likely to occur. This is a big one, because it affects people in all walks of life.
In fact, lifestyle is the number one cause of back pain in most people under the age of 30. At this age, individuals are much more likely to engage in behaviors which can be detrimental to their back health, such as high impact sports. At the same time, people in this age group are more reluctant to take measures which could prevent strain on their backs, including the use of safety equipment and "taking it easier" on the field.
Medical Conditions
A third category of back pain causing incidents includes all ongoing medical conditions. This category is fairly vast, and obviously may have some overlap with the two we mentioned above. For example, a person could sustain an injury after being tackled in football, or a fall at work. These and other impact type injuries (including car accidents) would fall under medical causes of back pain.
Also included in this category would be back pain arising from a number of different diseases or conditions. Spondylitis and other forms of arthritis, unhealthy organs, and even cancer are all known to cause back pain.
Stress, posture, and the psyche
Individuals experiencing stress will often feel it manifested in pressure point areas, including the head and the lower back.
Poor posture is also known to cause severe back pain. Sitting, standing, even walking and running in a manner that does not have the bones, muscles, and ligaments of the back properly lined up means adding pressure to your back.
Finally, pain in the back may be triggered by the mind itself. Studies have shown that back pain can actual be manifested in a patient after a car accident when seeking damages, as well as when seeking to avoid work.
The good news on pain is that in almost all cases, there are treatments available. The spine and its surrounding support systems is among the most durable of all our systems, and capable of quick recovery. Knowing the category of pain you are experiencing will help you as you look through your treatment options.
----------------------------------------
An URGENT Message From Philadelphia’s Top Back Pain Expert…
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