5 most common causes of back pain

BACK pain can stem from simple muscle strains to more serious medical conditions. BACK pain often begins as a minor discomfort but can gradually become more troublesome over time, and a new study suggests that a form of talking therapy might be able to help.

- CAMILLA FOSTER

Published in The Lancet Rheumatology, the study explored the impact of cognitive functional therapy (CFT) - a type of psychotherapy to “address the causal mechanisms” of chronic lower back pain and help to change the way people think about and respond to pain.

Researchers recruited more than 1,000 participants for this study and divided them into three groups: one received standard treatment, another underwent CFT, and the third received CFT along with biofeedback, which tries to teach a person to control automatic body functions.

The results showed that both CFT on its own and CFT combined with biofeedback were significantly more effective than standard care in reducing activity limitation caused by lower back pain.

But what actually causes back pain? Here are some of the most common causes...

1. MUSCLE STRAINS AND LIGAMENT SPRAINS

A common cause of back pain is an injury, like a pulled muscle.

"The first episode of back pain is usually related to a sudden injury," says Sam Bhide, advanced practice physiotherapist, and founder and clinical director at Physiozen Ltd.

"Sudden movement can cause injury and bring on back pain after you return to the gym after time off, for example, because your body has forgotten what to do."

Muscle strains and ligament sprains are typically diagnosed through physical examinations which are usually conducted by physiotherapists or doctors.