Risk Factors
If you don't take care of your back, you could end up with a decrease in strength and elasticity of muscles and ligaments. This is a perfect set-up for injury.
There are five main risk factors:
Age
In many cases of acute lower back pain caused by bending, lifting and overreaching, it's from years of not conditioning the back muscles and ligaments.
Poor posture
Constant energy exerted by muscles around the spine help balance the vertebrae against gravity all the time, even when we sleep. Pay attention to your posture as you walk and sit to reduce strain against gravity and motion.
Extra weight
Your back has a natural curve of the lower spine. However, abdominal fat can pull this part of the spine forward and downward. During pregnancy, the change in weight and where that weight is located puts a new strain on the back.
Sedentary lifestyle
When out of shape, our muscles, including those that support the spine, weaken. Strong abdominal muscles give added protection to the lower back.
Stress
When the reactions to the demands of everyday life are extreme, our bodies react by tightening muscles. Our jaw muscles contract, our fists may clench and the back muscles tighten as if gearing up to flee. Unfortunately, all the extra muscle effort leaves less energy for our back to work smoothly doing the delicate balance of protecting the spine while permitting the flexibility and range of motion we tend to take for granted. The back's ready-or-not stressful state is a set-up for injury, as stiff back muscles cannot work efficiently.
On the job
Certain professions also put you at higher risk for back pain. Truck drivers, for example, sit for long periods. Nurses are constantly bending and reaching over beds, or they are lifting and moving patients.
Children's backpacks
A backpack overloaded with books can strain your child's back and cause muscle fatigue. More than 13,000 injuries related to backpacks were treated at doctors' offices, clinics and emergency rooms in 2000, according the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Children should bend both knees when lifting heavy packs, visit their locker or desk between classes to lighten loads or replace books, or use a backpack on wheels.
More on Acute Lower Back Pain Q&A: Protecting Your Lower Back
This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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