Back pain comes in many forms and develops for a variety of reasons, but some actions are more likely to lead to spine pain than others. A recent study of more than 2,000 patients with back pain attempted to learn more about the causes of back pain and what actions trigger a flareup. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at which actions and activities back pain sufferers said was most likely to cause a flareup.
10 Causes Of Spine Pain
During the survey, back pain sufferers were asked which activities aggravated their back or cervical spine pain. Here’s a look at the top 10 activities linked to back pain and the percentage of respondents who said the activity caused pain.
- Heavy lifting – 57%
- Sitting for prolonged periods – 51%
- Bending over – 45%
- Standing or walking for too long – 42%
- Poor mattress – 28%
- Carrying groceries – 28%
- Uncomfortable office chair – 26%
- Driving – 23%
- Stairs – 23%
- Laundry – 22%
Let’s dive a little deeper into these findings. Essentially, most of these activities can be grouped into one of two umbrella categories. The first is back pain that is caused by lifting, which includes heavy lifting, carrying groceries and laundry. The second is back pain from prolonged positioning, which includes sitting for prolonged periods, standing or walking for too long, uncomfortable office chairs, poor mattress and driving. The only action that doesn’t really fit into either category is stairs, which is more of a repetitive motion, which certainly can be a cause for back pain.
So what’s the takeaway point here? Oftentimes back pain is caused by lifting heavy objects and from keeping our spine in one position for too long. If we know that these are common trigger points, we can take some steps to mitigate our risk of a back pain flareup. For starters, practice proper lifting techniques and grab a partner for particularly heavy lifts. Also, consider making multiple trips instead of trying to carry too heavy or too awkward a load in one trip.
As for back pain from prolonged periods of stress, it’s important to realize that we need to stay active during periods of extended sitting by taking time to stand up and stretch your spine. On the flip side, we also need to avoid overdoing it by walking or standing too long. Find a way to give your spine the rest it needs to stay healthy. If relaxing in bed is one way you pamper your spine, be sure you have a supportive mattress, as an unsupportive mattress is one of the most common triggers for back pain.
At the end of the day, if you keep this list in mind and try to do right by your spine in the form of a healthy diet, regular exercise and yearly physicals, we’re confident you’ll stay ahead of your back pain. If any of the above activities are causing your spine pain, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi’s office today.
