Whether it's a niggle as you bend down to pick something up or real pain getting out of bed in the morning, millions of us suffer from lower back pain every day. Sometimes it's poor posture or a need for more back exercises. Other times, it's something that no amount of stretching will sort out.
Dr Amir Khan is woman&home's resident GP. He explains that our “lower back is designed for movement and load-bearing, which also makes it vulnerable”. The key to reducing your risk of back pain is understanding the common causes. These could be “muscle or ligament strain, poor posture, prolonged sitting, weak core or glute muscles, sudden awkward movements, or lifting incorrectly,” says Dr Khan. Other risk factors include being overweight, physically inactive, being chronically stressed, or dealing with mental health issues, like depression.
