5 Major Causes of Back Pain

Back pain is one of the most common health problems, with statistics showing that almost 4 in 10 adults have requested back pain treatment within the past three months alone. Furthermore, estimates show that at least 80% of the population will experience back pain sometime in life. There are multiple causes of back pain and, as a Knoxville chiropractor, I’ve helped many patients overcome their backaches, but my ultimate goal is to help people avoid this pain in the first place. With that in mind, let’s look at some of the 5 most common reasons people might experience back pain.  

1. Strains and Sprains / Improper Lifting

There are as many ways to injure your back as there are people. Whether it’s lifting a wiggling toddler quickly without bending your knees first, or you twist too hard during a basketball game, or any number of other mishaps, back pain and pulled muscle situations are probably the most common ones I see in the office. Injuries happen, and when they do, make sure to schedule an appointment here in our Knoxville office right away so we can help you get pain relief and recover as quickly as possible. 

It’s important to understand how sprains, strains, and pulled muscles can cause back pain so that you can avoid these situations whenever possible. In addition to the spine housing your spinal cord, which is central to nervous system function, the vertebrae are supported by muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Your muscles are connected to your bones by tendons, and ligaments hold together and stabilize the bones. They obviously all need to function together well. When any of these components are injured, they can cause localized pain. They can also cause referred pain that causes imbalances in the other tissues. This is why it’s so important to address injuries quickly so they don’t get worse. Also, let’s clear up the confusion about what the differences between sprains and strains are: 

• Strains: You injure a muscle (pulled muscle) or a tendon.

• Sprains: You injure a ligament. Spinal sprains often happen because of improper lifting technique or sudden twists and turns. 

Obviously, the best way to avoid back pain from pulled muscles, sprains, and strains is to avoid situations where those injuries may occur, which we know isn’t always possible. There are, however, ways to reduce the chances of getting those injuries! Some of those include: 

• Correct lifting technique: If you need to lift a heavy object, be sure to bend your knees and not your back. Hold the object close to your torso. Better yet, get someone to help you, and both lift with the legs! 

• Proper exercise technique: Make sure that when you work out, you’re working out using the proper form. If you have any questions about this, we can definitely give you tips here in the office. If everyone paid attention to this while working out, we would see fewer back pain and pulled muscle combinations.

• Build core strength: One of the best ways to prevent back injuries is to make sure your entire core is strong. Incorporate core strength building into your workout and this will bolster the muscles that support your back, making it stronger and less susceptible to injury in the future.

2. Age/Lack of Motion

Staying fit, eating right, and getting regular chiropractic care can slow the aging process down and help you stay pain-free for years longer than if you didn’t do those things. And yet, age still progresses and can cause tissue degeneration, which can cause back pain and other aches and pains. Age-related back pain can start even as early as the 30s! Some parts of the spine that can suffer from degeneration over the years are the shock-absorbing discs that cushion the spaces between vertebrae. We will talk more in-depth about this a little later because it’s an entire category of its own. Again, staying fit, working on core strength, regular chiropractic care, and good nutrition can often slow or prevent age-related back pain for many years. Furthermore, even if you are a more “seasoned” patient, working on improving core strength, exercise, nutrition, and regular chiropractic adjustments can improve your back pain even now. 

3. Lack of Exercise

As I mentioned earlier, the spine is an intricate network that is supported by muscles, ligaments, and tendons. One of the more common causes of back pain that I see is in people who live relatively sedentary lives or spend a lot of time sitting at a desk at work. The spine needs strong core muscles to support it, and when those muscles are weak and untoned, poor posture problems can be exacerbated, which frequently leads to back pain. 

In addition to poorly-conditioned muscles, many people who spend a lot of time sitting can tend toward being overweight, which is another stress factor on the back. Excess weight causes imbalances that can pull vertebrae out of alignment, pinch nerves, and cause pain. This is why staying fit and focusing on core strength is so vitally important. 

4. Bulging and Ruptured Disks

Your intervertebral discs are extremely important cushioning agents that keep vertebrae from grating against each other and pinching nerves. They help your spine stay flexible, so you can twist and bend. Age, poor posture, poor core strength, and sudden injury can put stress on your discs and cause them to bulge or rupture. If they rupture, some of the jelly-like material from inside the disc can extrude out and press on nerves, which can cause back pain. Regular chiropractic adjustments can help prevent these issues.

5. Arthritis

Often age-related, arthritis can impact the spinal joints. When these joints become inflamed, they can narrow the space available to the spinal cord (spinal stenosis), which can cause more back pain. Again, chiropractic care, exercise, and a non-inflammatory diet can help you here. 

How Homberg Chiropractic and Wellness Can Help

You’ve probably noticed that many of these back pain causes are interrelated. Poor posture when lifting objects or exercising can be exacerbated by poor core strength. A lack of exercise can lead to poor core strength. Poor conditioning can lead to poor posture. Poor posture can cause imbalances and poor core conditioning. It’s all connected. As a Knoxville chiropractor, I see all of these things on a daily basis in my patients to one extent or another. Be sure to schedule an appointment so we can develop a plan to help you get back pain relief and get to a point where you’re living a life that prevents further back pain.