Overview & Facts

Back pain may be mild or extreme, quick or constant. What raises your risk -- and what can you do about it? Learn about back pain’s causes, risks, and prevention.

What Is Back Pain?
1. Spine Anatomy and Back Pain Learn about the spine and get basic information on back pain.
2. Back Pain Basics Problems from back pain are the most common physical complaints among American adults and are a leading cause of lost job time -- to say nothing of the time and money spent in search of relief.
3. Musculoskeletal Pain Musculoskeletal pain is pain that affects the muscles, ligaments and tendons, and bones.
4. Slideshow: A Visual Guide to Low Back Pain Low back pain is a universal human experience -- almost everyone has it at some point.
Causes
1. Causes of Back Pain Back pain often happens because something is off in the way your spinal joints, muscles, discs, and nerves fit together and move.
2. Low Back Pain Age plays a role, but the other low back pain causes can include injures, an inactive lifestyle, poor posture, illnesses, and obesity.
3. Herniated Disc Problems with the spine’s discs may play a role in back pain.
4. Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, can involve the spine.
5. Spinal Stenosis If the spinal canal narrows, back pain may result.
6. Ankylosing Spondylitis Learn about ankylosing spondylitis, a spine condition that causes back pain.
7. Spondylolisthesis Spondylolisthesis is a slipping of vertebra that occurs, in most cases, at the base of the spine.
8. Spine Curvature Disorder Types When abnormalities of the spine occur, the natural curvatures of the spine are misaligned or exaggerated in certain areas, as occurs with lordosis, kyphosis, and scoliosis.
9. Slideshow: A Visual Guide to Sciatica When something injures or puts pressure on the sciatic nerve, it can cause pain in the lower back that spreads to the hip, buttocks, and leg.
10. Back Injuries Back problems and injuries often occur during sports or recreational activities, work-related tasks, or home projects.
Risk & Prevention
1. Back Pain Risk Factors Explore the risk factors for low back pain.
2. Back Pain During Pregnancy Pregnant with an aching back? Many pregnant women can relate. Here’s help.
3. Preventing Back Pain Use these tips at home, work, and play to guard your back.

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