Major causes of back and body pain are improper spine-related body movements and incorrect posture. There are plenty of moving parts in the spinal column – muscles, tendons, ligaments, vertebrae, intervertebral disks, and facet joints. Any changes, alignment, damage of the above contribute to and invite back pain.

A common region for pain is the low back where the lumbar vertebrae are present. They absorb and distribute most bodyweight when at rest and during movement. The neck is likely to get injured as it has to support the weight of the head. Even when the body is at rest, the spine needs support to combat forces such as – gravity, compression, stress, and tension. Let us look at what causes back pain.

1. A sprain in neck or back – A sprain occurs when a ligament is torn or overstretched. A strain involves a muscle or tendon. Identifying the source of pain can be pretty difficult. During a sprain or strain, the soft tissues are injured, and they swell up. This results in a feeling of pain. Muscle spasms can be even more painful. Stiffness makes movement difficult. You should look into yoga postures if you want to know how to cure body pain.

2. Disc herniation – The vertebral bodies are separated by the intervertebral discs. The discs are anchored in place by endplates – a fibrous connective tissue that is a part of the disc. These discs are made of fibrocartilage and allow limited movement. When the gel-like material breaks through the outer ring, it results in disc herniation. The nerves are compressed, and inflammation occurs.

3. Lumbar Spinal Stenosis – Spinal stenosis develops when the spinal canal narrows. The nerve structures are compressed, resulting in pain. Most back pain symptomsdepend on the cause. This problem of lumbar spinal stenosis is common among older adults and is associated with degenerative changes.

4. Vertebral Compression Fracture – When a force causes the vertebral body to collapse, a vertebral compression fracture might occur. It is most commonly associated with osteoporosis – a disease that results because of low bone mineral density and calcium. This reduces the strength of the bones. The fracture can occur commonly in people with osteoporosis. The pain can be quite severe.

5. Spondylolisthesis – If a vertebral body moves forwards over the underlying vertebra, the problem is termed as spondylolisthesis. The lumbar region is the most common area where this problem occurs. However, it can even occur in the neck. The disease is categorized into different grades, depending on the slippage of the vertebra.

6. Spinal Osteoarthritis (Spondylosis) – Degenerative spinal osteoarthritis is known as spondylosis. It is quite common in older adults. It can affect the facet joints, resulting in stiffness, inflammation, and pain. The problem can develop in the neck, low back, and mid-back.

These are the most common reasons for low back pain.