Back pain[1] is a pain or ache in the back. It can happen to anyone and be caused by a lot of things, but it is more common in some occupations (jobs) or hobbies, such as in warehouse workers or bodybuilders or strongmen athletes. A muscle sprain (also called "pulling a muscle") near the back can cause back pain and often does.[2] Slipped disk injuries, nerve pain (causing radiating pain), and medical conditions (such as ankylosing spondylitis) are other causes of back pain. Inactivity can cause back pain,[2] while daily exercise or stretches can help prevent it.
Back pain can be with or without "radiation". When the pain radiates out and makes more of the body ache it is back pain with radiation, otherwise its back pain without.[1] Back pain can radiate if it travels up the nerves to a larger part of the body. A common form of back pain is pain in the lower back near the pelvis or sacral spine, which can be caused by not using the proper form (not having the body positioned right) when lifting things off the ground. It can also be pain in the spine, anywhere from the bottom, near the buttox, to the top. Pain above the back where it meets the neck can sometimes be neck pain and have nothing to do with the back.
Tingling, weakness, or numbness in the back can be caused by back pain, or be happening at the same time. These can be a symptom of back pain or cause, depending on the type of back pain and person experiencing it. Anxiety over pain, especially when it is chronic, is common and back pain is no different.
Causes
Back pain is common and is caused by a sprained (pulled) muscle a lot of the time.[2] A slipped disk (a type of injury that is common in sports, also called a herniated disk), surgery, and medical conditions can cause back pain. For example, ankylosing spondylitis can cause pain in the back. Poor sitting posture is a common source of back pain, especially in office jobs, and a lot of employers try to make this less a risk in their companies.
Back pain caused by lifting things off the ground can be caused by lifting things while the body is not positioned right. It can be caused by trying to lift heavy or big objects. If the body is not positioned properly when lifting, it can even be caused by lifting light things It is common in weightlifters if they do not use safety equipment.
Avoiding workplace back pain
Avoiding back pain caused by lifting heavy things is simple and means just having the proper "form" when lifting things. Form is how the body is positioned, and the proper (right) way to have the body when lifting things off the ground is to bend the knees to get lower and closer to the item, having the arms out straight with shoulders level and facing the same direction as the hip,[3] having the object in front of the body, close to the body, and lifting without twisting.[3][4] Most importantly, lifting with the legs (not the back) helps prevent sudden "snaps" and serious back pain.
Lifting with the back straight with the knees bent from a low level, and using slight bends of the back at the start of lifting, not during, is helpful.[3][4] The thing that needs to be lifted should have a place to go before starting to lift it, and it should be lifted using both hands.[4] Making sure the feet are placed firmly on the ground (while lifting things) and walking in a calm way, with one foot going in front of the other is helpful.[3]
If back pain caused by a job is caused by the employer not training their employees, they can be sued in court, and damage caused to the person because of this is usually paid to the victim by the person that made them do the jobs in the first place. This is because back pain could harm the body, as well as back pain while it is happening usually makes it so a person can not work and earn money.
Treatment
A common treatment for back pain are prescription opioids like codeine or oxycontin. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) are also useful in treating back pain and are available over the counter (OTC). Supplementing NSAIDs with ice packs or heat packs applied to the back can be helpful in reducing back pain.[2] Exercise and stretching daily makes the body and joints more healthy and flexible, which can make back pain less likely to occur.
Sometimes back pain is the symptom of other more serious problems, and treatment for those might be rest (from work or exercise) in the beginning and working up to physiotherapy (slowly getting used to using the back again). This can make the back as strong as it was before without causing damage. Over-exertion is a risk, but pain during recovery from a back injury can also be a good thing so long as the originating cause has been resolved. Back pain without a serious underlying cause can resolve (fix) itself within a few weeks, and during that time it is useful to stay active.[2]
Chronic back pain (pain for a long time) or pain that makes daily activities difficult may need a referral to a GP. Also, pain that is getting worse, or causing anxiety, can be a sign of a more serious underlying condition. Severe back pain, or back pain that is always there, if pain that is more than annoying is not normal.
Related pages
Other websites
Exercise and back stretches
References
- 1 2 "MeSH Browser". meshb.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 2026-04-01.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Back pain". 111.wales.nhs.uk. 2018-04-26. Retrieved 2026-04-08.
- 1 2 3 4 Lives, Healthy Working. "Good lifting technique". www.healthyworkinglives.scot. Retrieved 2026-03-28.
- 1 2 3 "Manual handling at work: Good handling technique - HSE". www.hse.gov.uk. Retrieved 2026-03-28.