Back pain is one of the leading health problems in Germany, according to several studies in recent years. Lack of exercise, incorrect loads on the spine, emotional conflicts or occupational stress can cause back pain.
Number of people with back problems on the rise
The number of people suffering from back problems or posture problems is continuously increasing. Around 80 percent of Germans have had back pain at some point in their lives, and 30 percent even suffer from chronic pain. The situation is now also dramatic among children and young people. 44 percent of fourth graders already complain of occasional back pain. These figures give pause for thought.
What is back pain?
Back pain refers to pain in the middle and lower lumbar spine. A distinction is often made between pure low back pain and pain radiating into the legs (ischialgia).
Causes of back pain
The causes for this development are to be found in the modern service society. Most of the time, people sit or lie in rigid positions and move far too little. This affects not only the professional situation, for example, by constantly sitting at a desk or in front of a computer, but also leisure time, for example, driving a car or watching TV for hours.
The most common causes at a younger age and in physically demanding occupations are overload problems of the musculature and soft tissue as well as static incorrect postures. They usually lead to unpleasant discomfort, which, fortunately, usually disappears relatively quickly if left untreated. Poor posture often causes tension in the musculature. The muscles lose their normal elasticity due to the incorrect strain, they harden and become painful. Often these tensions are caused by bad posture in the neck and shoulder area. The tension in the upper spine then continues downward.
Pain in the lumbar region is therefore not exclusively due to poor posture in this area. It is merely the painful area there, the symptoms of which are triggered by tension in the entire back. The consequences range from dizziness, circulatory problems, headaches and nausea to chronic back pain, which means a massive reduction in quality of life. With increasing age, however, the spine is subject to a chronic wear process just like the other components of the skeletal system. This can affect intervertebral discs, vertebral joints and involved soft tissues.
Other causes of back pain
In addition, serious diseases such as infections, tumor diseases or vascular diseases can also cause pain in the spine. In addition, low back pain can occur with psychological strain as well as stress. A special form of low back pain can occur during pregnancy. This discomfort usually disappears after childbirth.
The cause of low back pain can also be found outside the spine, for example in the adjacent abdominal cavity. From there, pain originating from diseased organs (for example, kidneys, small/large intestine, pancreas) can radiate into the lumbar region via the nervous system.
But anxiety, frustration, excessive demands and stress also cause tension. If there is seldom time to enjoy life in a relaxed and serene manner, then the inner tension also leads to a physically noticeable tension. People with back pain often get caught in a vicious circle as a result. Because of their pain, they withdraw. Loneliness and a lack of pleasures lead to increasing inner tension.
As a result, many people suffer from depression. This restriction of the quality of life increases the tendency to tension and increases the risk of suffering from back pain. Even the bad premonition of possibly not being able to participate in the next nice outing due to back pain increases the risk of actually suffering from back pain shortly beforehand.
