The Common Causes of Back Pain: A Basic Guide

Chronic back pain affects about 16 million American adults. This persistent pain limits many people when it comes to their daily activities.

Are you one of the millions of Americans struggling with back pain? If you are, you might want to know some of the common causes of back pain.


This guide will discuss what might be causing you back pain. Keep reading to learn more.

A Strain or Sprain Can Cause Back Pain

Some of the most common back pain causes include strains and sprains. These tend to occur in the lower back most often.

A strain occurs when a muscle or tendon is torn. A sprain happens when a ligament is torn. These can occur in a variety of ways but are often the result of a repetitive stress injury.

This type of pain can also cause muscle stiffness and spasms. It can decrease your range of motion as well.

Certain Medical Conditions Can Cause Back Pain

There are many types of back pain caused by different medical conditions or back issues.

The vertebra in your spine is protected by individual disks. When these disks rupture, this puts more pressure on the nerves. This can cause back pain.

Sciatica occurs when a sharp pain travels through your buttocks and the back of your leg. This is often caused by a bulging disk putting pressure on a nerve.

Osteoporosis occurs when your bones become brittle. This increases the chances of a compression fracture and can lead to back pain.

If you struggle with a kidney condition, you might struggle with back pain from time to time.

The Way You Move or Sit

Why does my back hurt? This is a question you might ask yourself often. If you do, it could be related to the way you move or your posture.

If you work sitting in front of a computer, the right posture is crucial to preventing back pain. Sitting hunched over can lead to back problems in the future.

Certain daily activities can also lead to back pain. Pushing or lifting heavy items the wrong way can cause pain. If you stand or sit for hours at a time, your back can suffer.

Trauma Can Lead to Back Pain

Lower back pain can develop after you've suffered from some form of trauma. A fall or a car accident are some of the most common events that lead to pain.

If you've developed back pain after one of these events, you should consult with your doctor. There are many ways of treating back pain. Research some of the different techniques before settling on a treatment option.

These Are Some of the Common Causes of Back Pain

This guide explains some of the common causes of back pain. You might develop back pain from a strain or after suffering trauma from a car accident.

Check out some of the other health blogs on our site to learn more about back pain.