Regardless of age or gender, 80% of the population will experience back pain. Although some people are more at risk due to predisposing condition or occupation, back pain can be experienced by anyone. It is the most common cause of absenteeism in the workplace.
- Acute (of recent onset with or without associated symptoms including leg pain)
- Acute on a chronic (current episode of pain that you have experienced in the past)
- Chronic (pain that is more or less constant but may vary in intensity for a number of months or years)
There are many different reasons for back pain. Often people experience back pain as the immediate result of an obvious injury. In other cases, back pain can seem to occur for no reason or as the result of a minor strain. However, in general back pain can often be traced to an accident or trauma, even one that occurred many years previously. This is because the body is very good at adapting to injuries when they occur & accommodating strains & stresses. However, the disruption to spinal mechanics brought about by injury can cause strain to build up over a period of time and symptoms begin, often progressing steadily.