Causes of Back Pain

Low back pain is among one of the most common causes of musculoskeletal complaints in the United States.  Up to 15 percent of Americans seek medical treatment for low back pain, and countless more suffer leading to millions in loss of productivity.

Mechanical low back pain refers to non-neurogenic causes of back pain such as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.  Patients typically complain of stiffness and tightness in their low back with the pain occasionally radiating to the buttocks and the back of their legs.  It is uncommon for mechanical low back pain to be associated with pain radiating below the knees or numbness, tingling or weakness.  In those instances, pinching of one of the nerves to the lower leg (i.e. sciatica) should be suspected.

There have been many treatments proposed to relieve low back pain, but few have withstood the test of science.  However, proper ergonomics and a stretching and strengthening program designed to condition the stabilizing core muscles and muscles of the spine have been proven and recommended to minimize the symptoms of low back pain.