Back pain affects approximately 90% of Americans at some time. With a number of instances this high, doctors and researchers have spent a lot of time trying to discover the causes for lower back pain. Lower back pain can be caused by many different factors. Just four of the causes for lower back pain are muscle strain, poor posture, lack of movement or exercise, and depression. The purpose of this article is to discuss these four causes of lower back pain as well as touch upon ways to alleviate the suffering.

Muscle Strains Or Sprains

Muscle sprain/strain experienced through picking up heavy items the wrong way, accidentally twisting or moving your back in a bad way, even slipping and falling, are considered acute lower back pain problems. This type of injury hurts incredibly and is frequently treated with a prescription muscle relaxants or pain medication. Rest and heat therapy are really all that can be done for lower back pain caused by muscle strains or sprains. Over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol or Advil can be helpful in temporarily relieving the pain but this form of lower back pain will only go away permanently with time and rest.

Poor Posture

Lower back pain can be caused by sitting and lying down in the wrong position for too long. While this type of chronic back pain takes time to fully develop and can worsen over time if not taken care of. Always remember that pain in the back is a symptom of another problem. If the problem is sitting incorrectly then you must work on correcting your posture. It is also a good ides to invest in supportive and comfortable furniture, such as an ergonomic office chair or a high quality foam mattress.

Lack Of Exercise Or Movement

Leading an inactive, or sedentary, lifestyle usually involves sitting or lying down for prolonged periods of time. Through lack of use, the muscles in your lower back will begin to hurt. The pain can be either a dull consistent throb or an occasional sharp pang. Obviously the treatment for this cause of lower back pain is movement. Don’t allow yourself to sit or lie down for long periods of time. Sleep on your side with a pillow between your legs or on your back with a pillow under your knees to maintain a good posture throughout the night. Slowly the incidences of pain should become less frequent until it is gone.

Depression

Lately there has been a lot of research on depression causing pain and body aches in people suffering from the disorder. Studies have shown a correlation between people suffering from depression and those that complain of lower back pain. In fact both were shown to be a risk factor for the other. It is not currently known why depression can serve as a cause for lower back pain. Some believe it is because depressed individuals are more likely to look at a minor problem as a major issue. Others think it could be due to the fact that depressed people tend to be less active and spend a lot of time sitting around or lying in bed. ON the other hand, people with back pain are often told to “take it easy” and rest. This can make a previously active person lean towards depression. Normally doctors will treat the back pain or depression, whichever occurred first and hope that the other issue will clear up in time.