Back pain and other related symptoms are among the most common medical complaints. Generally, individuals- between the ages of 30 and 60 are more likely to experience lower back pain. Young adults also suffer from this condition with symptoms ranging from constant, dull pain in the lower back to sudden pain due to movement. Other symptoms of this condition may include:

• Difficulty moving
• Severe pain that leads to inability to walk or stand
• Pain that does not spread out down the leg
• Pain that moves around to the buttock, upper thigh, or groin
• Constant pain that tends to be dull
• Muscle spasms
• Local lower back soreness

There are different factors that cause this condition. Below is the list of the leading causes of lower back pain.

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Muscle Strain And Sprain

You might suffer from lower back pain if you suddenly exert force when trying to lift a heavy object, or when you suddenly twist around. This is because an unexpected force is applied to one or more muscles in the back, resulting to several muscle tears. Additionally, you might also suffer from frequent back pain if you had a previous injury since the muscles in your back might easily get damaged, resulting to sprains and strains.

• Sprain Injury: This occurs when you overstretch your muscles
• Strain Injury: This happens when you overstretch your tendons.

The best way to avoid back pain due to muscle strain and sprain is to condition your back through proper exercise. If you have been recently injured, you need to consult your physician before trying any exercise routine.

Sleeping On Your Stomach

Sleeping on your stomach every night will inflict pressure on your joints and muscles. If you can’t sleep in any other position, you can look for a mattress that will help eliminate pressure points so that you won’t wake up to an aching back. For instance, you can look for a medium firm mattress, one that can provide excellent spine support no matter your position. Remember that your mattress should not be too hard since it will affect your hips and shoulders, and it should not be too soft since it won’t be able to support your back and joints. In addition, you can also slide a thin pillow just under your hips. This will reduce pressure on your tendons, muscles, and discs.

Structural Problems And Conditions

• Osteoarthritis: This condition is very common in individuals over the age of fifty. It is also known as degenerative joint disease. This is when the cartilage in the discs between your vertebrae and the joints of your spine starts to degenerate. Without the cartilage, your bone will rub against each other, resulting to rigidity and swelling.
• Spinal Stenosis: This condition is also common among people over 50 years old. This condition has many causes, including bony spurs, enlarged joint cartilage, or thickened ligaments along the spinal canal.
• Scoliosis: This is a structural problem wherein the upper or lower area of your spine has an excessive sideways curve.
• Kyphosis: This is another structural problem wherein the upper back has an excessive outward curve. Because the back curves outward, it is also referred to as the “hunchback” problem.

If you suffer from chronic lower back pain, you need to consult your doctor. Some of these conditions can be corrected and treated; however, some conditions, such as with spinal stenosis, will sometimes require surgery.

Lack Of Exercise

Although lying down reduces the stress on your spine, staying inactive can actually aggravate your lower back pain. In addition, lack of exercise will also make your back muscles vulnerable to strains and sprains. Based on the study conducted in Sweden, patients who remained active are able to quickly recover from back pain. With that said, you can start with low-impact activities, such as walking and swimming, to relieve pain and stiffness. You can also consider trying other forms of exercise, such as yoga since it focuses on stretching and strengthening.

The author, Kris Lim, is a blogger who specializes in health and wellness topics. In this article, she discusses the most common causes of lower back pain to help raise awareness. She also occasionally writes for online mattress stores, such as http://www.ParklaneMattresses.com.