The curse of back pain is becoming a more common ailment and although anyone can at some point in time face it, a number of factors can increase the risk of suffering from it. These risks can emerge from a wide variety of factors from activity that is undertaken purposefully to lifestyle habits that you might not have thought would have an effect on the health of your back.

Back pain can become more common with age but this does not mean that you have to accept it as part of becoming older. And it is not just the older generation that is more prone to it as often it is those in their 30's and 40's that can suffer greatly. This is much more prevalent among those less physically fit. Where back and abdominal muscles are allowed to become weak they may not properly support the spine. It is common for those who have been inactive all week to consciously undertake exercise in a concentrated period over the weekend. Whilst this has benefits they are unfortunately more likely to suffer painful back injuries than people who make moderate physical activity a daily habit. Studies show that low-impact pilates exercise is good for the discs that cushion the vertebrae, the individual bones that make up the spine.

Many diseases can cause or contribute to back pain. These include various forms of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, spondylitis, and cancers elsewhere in the body that may spread to the spine. In addition to this, such lifestyle choices such as smoking may not directly be the cause it can increase your risk of developing low back pain and even worse, sciatica. As an example, by continuing smoking it may contribute to pain by blocking the body's ability to naturally deliver nutrients required by the disks of the lower back. As a result of smoking, it is not uncommon for repeated coughing to have a detrimental effect on the muscles around the back leading to pain. And just for good measure, smoking has been found to slow the healing process which will have the effect of prolonging pain as a result of back injuries, back surgery or broken bones. The problem of a diet reliant on fat and high calory food together with an inactive lifestyle, can lead to obesity and this will put undue stress on the back.

Another reason for the onset of back pain is from activity which is related to types of work. Having a job that requires heavy lifting, pushing, or pulling, particularly when this involves twisting or vibrating the spine, can lead to injury and back pain. In complete contrast, undertaking an inactive job such as sitting at a desk for long periods of the working day may also lead to or contribute to pain, especially if you have a poor sitting posture that places undue pressure on the spine which can be due to the choice of an inappropriate chair. This can lead to the muscles becoming out of alignment and thus creating unnecessary strain on them.