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The Most Common Risk Factors for Back Pain

Over 31 million people suffer from some type of back pain. In fact, back pain is listed as the number one reason why people call in sick to work. There are a number of circumstances that can cause back pain. Moreover, there are multiple parts of our back that can be in pain: from the upper back to the lower back. These pains can be from strained muscles, torn ligaments, ruptured discs and more. The human back is, in essence, one of the most complicated bone and muscle structures in our bodies, because it is responsible for keeping our whole body upright and aligned. Luckily there are a number of treatments to help with back pain, but most importantly it is crucial to know what some of the risk factors are first.

For one, age is a huge risk factor in of itself. Over a lifetime of working, playing and just living, your back can start to wear out. Whether due to some sort of degenerative bone disease caused by aging or from bone loss contributed to old age, the back can start to show signs of telling you it has had enough. One of the best ways to alleviate this pain is to stretch your body regularly and do basic core exercises that loosen up the bones and muscles in your back.

Next, sports are another huge risk factor for back pain. Whether you play baseball in the park on your days off or you are a professional basketball player, regular to rigorous physical exertion can start to cause pain in your lower, middle and upper back. If you do play sports it is recommended that you get regular deep tissue and muscle massages or see a chiropractor to work out the kinks whenever you have them. If you just let those kinks go, they will only get worse until you are in a comprehensive pain management program.

Also, there are occupational hazards that can contribute to back pain and chronic back pain. If you have a job that requires heavy lifting or lots of bending, chances are that you will start to wear out your back over time. Specifically, the discs in your spine will see the most wear, because of all the fiction. This can result in sciatica, fused discs and other problems with the spine, which can be excruciating and might require surgery. If you do have a career that might make you susceptible to back pain, you want to make sure that you wear some type of brace, have excellent health coverage and do regular morning stretching exercises to get your back prepared for the day at work. You never want to just jump into lifting boxes while your muscles are cold.

Lastly, there are a number of genetic disorders as well that can cause back pain. For instance, degenerative disc disease can cause your spine to develop fused discs, which can lead to a whole host of other spinal pain disorders. In order to combat this it is recommended to see a physician regularly to be diagnosed before it becomes a problem. You can also talk to your doctor about exercises to loosen up the spine and keep the back in optimal working condition. One of the best ways to prevent chronic back pain is to be aware and to be tuned in to the warning signs.