What Is Back Pain?
Back pain refers to discomfort or aching in the upper, middle, or lower portion of your back. While anyone can experience back pain, it is most common in the lower back — the area between the bottom edge of the ribs and the top of the hips. Most people will experience back pain at some point in life. Many episodes improve within weeks, but some become persistent and affect daily activities. Back pain is a symptom rather than a single disease. It can originate from muscles, discs, joints, nerves, or other spinal structures. Who Gets Back Pain & Why It Matters Back pain is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. It affects people of all ages and becomes more common with aging. Contributing factors include: Repetitive strain or heavy lifting Poor posture Weak core muscles Disc degeneration Arthritis Nerve compression Sedentary lifestyle Early evaluation helps prevent chronic disability and improves re...