Low back pain causes
1. Muscle or Ligament Strain (Most Common)
What happens:
Overstretching or overloading the muscles supporting your spine.
Common triggers:
- Lifting with poor form
- Sudden return to exercise
- Twisting while lifting
- Sitting too long, then intense activity
Feels like:
- Dull ache
- Tightness
- Worse with movement
- Better with rest
2. Herniated or Bulging Disc
What happens:
The cushion between vertebrae pushes outward and irritates nerves.
Feels like:
- Sharp or shooting pain
- Pain down one leg (sciatica)
- Numbness or tingling
- Worse when sitting
3. Joint Problems (Facet Joint Irritation)
What happens:
Small joints in the spine become irritated or arthritic.
Feels like:
- Pain when leaning backward
- Stiffness in the morning
- Localized pain (not usually down the leg)
4. Poor Core Strength / Deconditioning
If you’ve taken time off exercise, this is very common.
When core muscles are weak:
- Lower back muscles overwork
- Posture worsens
- Small loads feel heavy
This often causes:
- Achy pain after activity
- Fatigue in lower back
- Relief when lying down
5. Less Common but Serious Causes
See a doctor urgently if you have:
- Loss of bowel/bladder control
- Severe leg weakness
- Fever with back pain
- Pain after major trauma
These could indicate nerve compression or infection.
