Low back pain is a highly common problem among Americans. However prevalent, many are unaware of daily habits that contribute to the pain. Check out the top 3 overlooked causes of low back pain, below!
Familiarizing yourself with the possible causes of your lower back pain can help you better communicate with your doctor, which in turn may lead to both a quicker diagnosis and earlier recovery.
With this in mind, here is what you need to know about 3 lesser-known causes of lower back pain:
1. Stress
It is no secret that back pain can lead to stress—but you might be surprised to learn that stress can be the primary cause of low back pain. If stress is found to be the primary cause of your lower back pain, it is classified as a psychosomatic condition. A psychosomatic condition means that your symptoms were prompted by emotional and/or psychological factors, or that these factors are responsible for the continuation of your symptoms. While there are competing theories as to how exactly stress causes lower back pain, most of these theories share in common the idea that psychological and/or emotional factors produce some type of physical change that results in your lower back pain. Common sources of stress include money-related problems, a drastic life change (such as moving to a new city), or a strained personal relationship.
2. Poor posture is an overlooked cause of lower back pain
Poor sitting posture places strain on your spine and the surrounding muscles. As a result, the actual anatomical characteristics of your spine may be altered. This can lead to constricted nerves, as well as other problems with soft tissues, discs, and joints. Additionally, the act of sitting places more stress on your lumbar spine than standing, and sitting with poor posture adds even more stress, so you may aggravate your existing lower back issues (such as a herniated disc).
Examples of common posture mistakes while sitting at the office include:
- Slumping your shoulders and head forward
- Ignoring your chair’s lumbar support
- Looking down at a screen for an extended period of time
Even if you sit with good posture, it’s a smart idea to get up and move around every 30 minutes. This will help relieve the stress on your lower back and encourage blood flow.
3. Lack of sleep
While a lack of sleep might not be the primary cause of your lower back pain, it may be a significant contributing factor. Here is how it works. First, chronic back pain can make it difficult to fall asleep. And in turn this lack of sleep can further aggravate your chronic pain—and so you find yourself stuck in a frustrating, painful cycle. On top of this, a lack of sleep can also affect your cognitive functioning and weaken your immune system.
This article was originally posted on Spine-health.com.
