While there are a large number of reasons for back pain, this article will discuss a few that are not often addressed. When back pain victims think of what causes back pain, they often believe that all of a sudden, they make a quick and sudden movement or pick up a heavy object and their back goes out. While this may happen in some circumstances, it is far more likely that repetitive conditions leading up to a sudden traumatic injury have much more to do with the pain than the proximate cause itself.

First of all, individuals who have static postures for elongated periods of time will produce compression forces on their spine and discs. These types of postures can greatly increase the forces on the lower back and the longer they need to be held, the more likely it is that chronic discomfort or injury will be the result. This is especially true if workers are forced to perform tasks in a posture with a flexed trunk type bending over posture. There is a greater risk and higher incidence of developing back pain over time.

Another cause of low back pain is simply sitting down while working for long periods of time. Long-term sitting postures at the workplace have a tendency to lead to chronic back discomfort. People who sit down hunched over a computer for 8-10 hours every day are asking their lower backs to perform functions for which it was not designed. Just getting up and extending the back with a stretch periodically throughout the day can help prevent long-term pain.

A very little-discussed cause of back pain is back pain due to vibration. This is especially true if it is occurring when in a seated position. These vibration forces are unpredictable and challenge the body's ability to stabilize the spine. Sitting in a car or on the bus or train for several hours a day while commuting to work can cause stress on the spine and connective tissues. Over time, sitting while vibration is going on can lead to chronic back pain, even though the cause and effect may never be linked.

Knowing what causes back pain is the first step to preventing back pain. Everyone with and without back pain should consider these causes of back pain. At New Century Spine Centers in San Diego, these causes of back pain are regularly treated by the chiropractors and spinal decompression doctors. Dr. Michael Pritsker, DC and Dr. Dirk Kancilia, DC regularly treat patients with back pain. Dr. Mike Pritsker, DC also has extensive experience in spinal decompression therapy.