Lower back pain (LBP) is a problem most of us will feel at some time during our lives and it has several causes, including;

*Poor posture is by far the most common cause, slouching in your chair, falling asleep on lounges, not standing straight, sitting with your wallet in your back pocket and generally using one side of your body too much (ie being too left handed or too right handed) are habits that you should drop if you do not want to become a chronic lower back pain sufferer. (Low self esteem will make your posture sag too).

*Lifting injuries can traumatise the discs, ligaments and muscles in your spine, the injury may be a single painful event or a series of cumulative micro traumas that go mainly unnoticed in the short term but eventually result in a pain that seems to come from nowhere and lays you flat ( Cumulative muscle micro trauma even if work related can be very difficult to lodge an insurance claim for). Lifting your own excessive body weight may give you a lifting injury too.

*Diseases such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, Ankylosing spondolitis and fibromylagia can all give you chronic LBP.

There are many other less obvious causes of LBP,- PMT, constipation, uneven leg lengths, financial stress, relationship difficulties, cold weather, lack of exercise, high impact exercise ( i.e. road running) and chronic tiredness can all be a real pain in the back!.

Your back pain may be as easy to deal with as standing straight or as difficult as major spinal surgery depending on it’s seriousness. Generally speaking the younger an LBP sufferer is the better the prognosis (outcome). Over a period of many years poor posture can actually change the shape of your vertebrae (back bones), when this happens nothing will restore them to their original shape but they can always get worse so it is always in your best interest to improve your posture no matter how old you think you are.

Sometimes a bulging or prolapsed spinal disc (“slipped disc”) can apply enough pressure on a spinal nerve to not only give you LBP but also pain  tracking all the way down your leg (sciatica). Not everyone who has a prolapsed disc will suffer lower back pain  from it, infact one study showed that 70% of people who claim to have never suffered from LBP actually have one or more prolapsed discs- luck plays a part in everything.

Fortunately there are many therapies and exercises that can alleviate the cause and the symptoms of LBP, employing several different interventions in tandom can yield desirable results- therapies such as acupuncture, massage, osteopathy, chiropractic, orthotics and physio therapy. These health professionals can advise you on the most appropriate rehabilitative exercises too.

Exercise in the form of Yoga, Tai Chi, Chi Gong, Pilates, Feldencrais, Alexander Technique and swimming can help also.

Supplements such as magnesium and calcium, glucosamine and anti inflammatories both herbal and pharmacuetical help people get by.

Stress can effect people in some hard to predict ways, financial and relationship difficulties can contribute to lower back pain. if all the physical interventions don’t work you may need to investigate counselling or psycho therapy.

Whatever way you choose try it long enough for it to work, one go is usually not enough particularly if you have had your LBP for a long time.