Your lower back is the connecting point between your upper and lower body. It stands to reason that an area that works so hard and takes so much stress and strain from the rest of the body will hurt on occasion. Some studies show that as many as 80% of American adults will experience back pain at one time or another. And for many of these people, lower back pain will be the problem. There are many ways to treat this type of discomfort, but it is best to determine the cause of the lower back pain so that you can find the most effective treatment options for you. In many cases, this will be easier said than done, since the cause of lower back pain is often not terribly obvious. You may simply wake up one morning with pain in your lower back, without much of a clue as to how or why it began. However, there are some basic causes of lower back pain that you can consider in determining why your back hurts.

Muscle Strain

This is by far the most common cause of lower back pain. It is easy to strain these muscles through your daily activities – if you do not take care to protect this area of your back. Lifting heavy objects is a frequent cause of lower back pain, because many of us perform this task improperly. Instead of bending the knees and allowing the leg muscles to take the bulk of the weight, many will bend over from the back, and strain the muscles in the area when they stand back up. It is also easy to strain the muscles in this area through household chores like raking, gardening and vacuuming. Any activity that requires frequent bending or lifting can strain this area and be a cause of lower back pain. In most of these circumstances, resting the back, taking over the counter pain medication and applying hot and cold packs will be enough to heal the back and reduce the pain.

Poor Posture

There’s a very good reason why your mother used to constantly remind you to stand up straight when you were a kid. Poor posture can be a cause of lower back pain, and can be a bit more difficult to remedy than a simple muscle strain can. There are some types of back support, or braces, that you can wear to improve your posture and support your lower back. However, constant use of these devices can lead to atrophy in some muscles, so they are not recommended for all day use. However, if you wear them for a short period of time each day, they can improve your posture and your lower back pain as well. It is also important to strengthen the muscles of your core so that your lower back has the additional support. You can do this through abdominal exercises like crunches. A tighter abdomen will lead to a stronger, less painful back.

There are many causes of lower back pain, but by pinpointing the reason for your discomfort, you can find the most effective treatment plan for you.