Risk Factors of Back Pain

Back pain is an all-too-familiar problem that can range from a dull, constant ache to a sudden, sharp pain that leaves you incapacitated. It can come on suddenly -- from an accident, a fall, or lifting something too heavy -- or it can develop slowly, perhaps as the result of age-related changes to the spine. Although anyone can have back pain, a number of factors can increase a person's risk of developing back pain. Risk factors of back pain include:

 

• Age
• Fitness level
• Diet
• Heredity
• Race
• Presence of other diseases
• Occupation
• Smoking.

 

The first attack of low back pain typically occurs in people between the ages of 30 and 40. Back pain tends to become more common with age.

 

Back pain is more common among people who are not physically fit because they may have weak backs and weak abdominal muscles, which may not properly support the spine. "Weekend warriors" -- people who go out and exercise a lot after being inactive all week -- are more likely to suffer from painful back injuries than people who make moderate physical activity a daily habit. Studies have shown that low-impact aerobic exercise is good for the discs that cushion the vertebrae, which are the individual bones that make up the spine.

 

A diet that is high in calories and fat, combined with an inactive lifestyle, can lead to obesity. Obesity can put stress on the back, thus causing back pain.