Pain is our body’s way of telling us when something is wrong with it. Once we start to feel it, we usually ask ourselves the reason why it is aching. In cases of lower back pains, we often give this less thought and think that this can be a regular thing as you grow old.
But what if this happens at an age when you still should be around your physical prime? And when you are sure that your age is not the source of the issue?
According to Merinisa Natada, a registered physiotherapist and the owner of MN Physiotherapy Clinic located in Downtown Oshawa, “Nonspecific low back pain frequently occurs in young and middle-aged people. This type of strain involves many factors – not only structural and physiological abnormalities in the lumbar spine but also socio-psychological factors can be a significant cause. .”
“Complex factors comprising of obesity, overwork, lack of exercise and mental stress can induce low back pain”, Merinisa added. Hence, in this article, we will be discussing the three common factors that cause non-specific lower back pain.
But before mentioning the common causes, let’s first give you a short description of what a nonspecific pain is.
Nonspecific pain is defined as a type of pain with no definite medical diagnosis to specify as its cause. In relation to our topic, experiencing lower back pain despite not having any known abnormalities or injuries in the area means that you could be having a nonspecific type of lower back pain.
Here are the three common factors that can induce non-specific lower back pain:
Obesity
Letisha, a 31-year-old female and a mother of two, is currently experiencing sharp pain in her lower back area when she is performing certain motions or positions.
After she delivered her first-born at the age of 25, she gained some weight due to pregnancy, and her Body Mass Index (BMI) started to hit the overweight category. A few years later, Letisha had another pregnancy at the age of 28. After her second pregnancy, She gained a few more pounds. Due to the challenge of taking care of 2 children, the mother of two rarely had the time to cook. As time went by, she started preferring take-outs and fast food, which was more convenient for her busy schedule.
Due to her unhealthy diet and the weight she gained from previous pregnancies, Letisha’s BMI entered the obese category at the age of 30.
Obesity and overweight present a significant risk of developing issues on your back – both to the spine and to the muscles supporting it. Your spine supports the excess weight from your upper body and midsection. All of these puts further pressure onto your lower back. In severe cases, the lumbar spine region and the pelvis shift its alignment as they are being pulled forward by the weight of the midsection.
Lack of Exercise
Alex, a 27-year-old male, is a graphic artist who prefers to work in the comfort of his home. The majority of his income comes from freelancing for clients online, which is becoming fairly common set up in today’s world.
When he is not working, he usually browses graphic art websites to gain more inspiration for his upcoming projects. He is also a moderately heavy online gamer.
Also, he rarely engages with physical activities. It wasn’t long until he started to feel a dull pain on his lower back. At first, he just ignored it and thought of it as a result of a bad sleeping position. Thus he continued with his usual routine. Later on, the pain became more frequent, and he started having a harder time focusing while he is working on his artworks.
When your muscles lack the necessary exercise it requires, it weakens. When your lower back muscles become weak, it can have a hard time supporting your spine – this is why a lack of proper activity for your lower back muscles can induce low back pain.
Addressing the lack of activity for your lower back can be as simple as doing regular stretches at home. Turning this into a daily habit can already help you substantially to avoid developing pain on your lower back.
Mental Stress
Say you’re having struggles keeping up with your school paperwork. Or you’ve already graduated, and you’re currently facing a lot of pressure as you start looking for a job. Or maybe you are worried about your family’s current financial status.
As you go further down the stages of life, the more that you’ll be facing a lot of pressure and responsibilities. At some point in your life, you will experience stress.
When you’re struggling with stress, there are times that it can manifest physically. After all, both your mind and body are part of the same whole, and one part will always affect another.
Here are some effects of stress that may be the cause of the pain you’re experiencing in your lower back:
1. Irregular breathing patterns
Unrelaxed breathing causes the muscles around the lungs to tense up. It includes the muscles on your chest, shoulders and the general parts of your back.
2. Mind-Body Syndrome
It is a psychological condition that inhibits a physical reaction. Although it can manifest in any part of your body, it is known to be a common cause of chronic back pain as it causes the muscle around your spine to tighten up and shorten. Lower back muscles will then lack the flexibility it needs.
3. Negative effects on your mood
When you’re mood isn’t okay, you find it hard to move around and engage in physical activities. As previously mentioned, a lack of regular exercise can cause your muscles to weaken. Specifically, the lower back muscle that supports your spine.
If you’re guilty of at least one of the mentioned factors causing lower back pain, it may be a good idea to start making some lifestyle adjustments today even if you’re not experiencing any pains yet.
Although we’re hoping that you will not, it is more likely that you’ll develop chronic back pains as you go past the age of your prime. At that time, you’ll become more restricted in things that you can do.
Wouldn’t it be better to experience life while your body can still keep up with your passionate heart?
Life is short. Don’t let the limitations of the future affect your life today.