Back pain can be felt anywhere along the spine, from the neck down to the tailbone. The most common area of pain is in the lower back. The pain might also travel to other areas such as the buttocks, the back of the thigh, and down to the lower leg and/or foot. This type of pain is often called “radicular pain”. Senses may include tightness, aching, sharp pain, or other feelings such as tingling, numbness, or electric shock-like pain in the back or down the legs.
What Is Back Pain, And Why Is It So Common?
Low back pain is becoming increasingly common, with up to 80% of people experiencing low back pain at some point in their life. This is particularly true in large centres like downtown Vapi, where sedentary desk work, poor postural habits, and decreased overall activity, have all combined to increase the stress and strain on the lower back and the incidence of injury. The degree of pain ranges from mild discomfort to acute and debilitating chronic pain, with low back pain now the number one cause of disability worldwide.
Risk Factors
Low back pain affects people of all ages. It is more common in women than in men, and occurs more often in people aged 40-69 years of age. People who have low back pain in childhood are more likely to have it again as adults.
Risk factors for developing low back pain are:• Smoking
• Being overweight or obese
• Depression
• Frequent heavy lifting at work
Back Pain
Over 80% of the population will suffer from lower back pain in their lifetime. Back pain can come on suddenly and last for up to six weeks (called acute pain), due to a fall or heavy lifting. Back pain can also be chronic, lasting for over three months.
• Muscle aches
• Shooting or stabbing pain with movement, lifting, or coughing
• Sciatica or pain that radiates down your leg, with or without tingling and numbness
• Limited flexibility or loss of range of motion in the back
The most common cause of lower back pain is a torn or pulled muscle and/or ligament. A strain occurs when a muscle is stretched too far and tears, damaging the muscle itself. Sprains happen when overstretching and tearing affects ligaments, which connect the bones together.
