Risk Factors for Low Back Pain and Sciatica

A risk factor is something that increases your likelihood of getting a disease or condition.

It is possible to develop low back pain or sciatica with or without the risk factors listed below. However, the more risk factors you have, the greater your likelihood of developing low back pain or sciatica. If you have a number of risk factors, ask your doctor what you can do to reduce your risk.

Risk factors include:

Muscles that support the back can become weak with lack of exercise.

Work that requires the following motions puts additional stress on the back:

Heavy lifting
Bending or twisting
Exposure to vibrations, such as riding in a car or operating heavy machinery

Injuries from contact sports or falls can result in back pain.

Smoking may contribute to degeneration of the discs in the spine.

Maintenance of good weight is important for your overall health. While scientific evidence is inconclusive as to how much obesity contributes to back pain, extra pounds can increase pressure on the spinal muscles and disks.

When you lift objects with your back muscles instead of the stronger muscles in your legs, you increase your risk of back injury.

As you grow older, the discs in your back begin to lose water content and degenerate. This increases the risk of disc problems and back pain, especially after age 40. However, even with some disc degeneration, most people do not have back pain.

References

Acute low back pain. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed . Updated September 19, 2012. Accessed October 10, 2012.

Bogduk N, et al. Degenerative joint disease of the spine. Radiol Clin North Am . 2012;15(4):613-28.

Chronic low back pain. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed . Updated September 19, 2012. Accessed October 10, 2012.

Freedman MK. Saulino MF. Overton EA. Holding MY. Kornbluth ID. Interventions in chronic pain management. 5. Approaches to medication and lifestyle in chronic pain syndromes. Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. 89(3 Suppl 1):S56-60, 2008 Mar.

Leboeuf-Yde C. Body weight and low back pain. A systematic literature review of 56 journal articles reporting on 65 epidemiologic studies. Spine. 25(2):226-37, 2000 Jan 15.

Pain. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website. Available at: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/chronic%5Fpain/detail%5Fchronic%5Fpain.htm#Spine . Updated September 19, 2012. Accessed October 10, 2012.

Sciatica. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed . Updated August 26, 2012. Accessed October 10, 2012.

Revision Information

Reviewer: Rimas Lukas, MD
Review Date: 10/2012
Update Date: 10/11/2012

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.