Low Back Pain Fact Sheet
Home » Disorders » Patient & Caregiver Education » Fact Sheets
Table of Contents (click to jump to sections)
What structures make up the back?
What causes lower back pain?
What are the risk factors for developing low back pain?
How is low back pain diagnosed?
How is back pain treated?
Can back pain be prevented?
Recommendations for keeping one’s back healthy
What research is being done?
Where can I get more information?
If you have lower back pain, you are not alone. About 80 percent of adults experience low back pain at some point in their lifetimes. It is the most common cause of job-related disability and a leading contributor to missed work days. In a large survey, more than a quarter of adults reported experiencing low back pain during the past 3 months.
Men and women are equally affected by low back pain, which can range in intensity from a dull, constant ache to a sudden, sharp sensation that leaves the person incapacitated. Pain can begin abruptly as a result of an accident or by lifting something heavy, or it can develop over time due to age-related changes of the spine. Sedentary lifestyles also can set the stage for low back pain, especially when a weekday routine of getting too little exercise is punctuated by strenuous weekend workout.
https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Low-Back-Pain-Fact-Sheet
