Causes of Back & Neck Pain

Sports injuries Wear and tear (osteoarthritis) Whiplash, typically as a result of motoring accidents Standing, sitting or bending down for long periods Strains from lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling loads that are too heavy, or going about these tasks in the wrong way Having a trip or a fall Back pain can be made worse by: Being stressed or anxious Being overweight Having poor posture

There may be other causes of your low back pain, including:

• Fracture - a crack or break in one of the bones in your back
• Osteoporosis - a condition where bones lose density causing them to become weak, brittle and more likely to break
• A slipped disc - this is when a disc bulges so far out that it puts pressure on your spinal nerves (also known as a prolapsed disc)
• Spinal stenosis - a condition in which the spaces in your spine narrow
• Spondylolithesis - when one of your back bones slips forward and out of position
• Degenerative disc disease - when the discs in your spinal cord gradually become worn down
• Rheumatoid arthritis - an inflammatory condition in which your immune system causes inflammation of the lining of your joints and surrounding structures

Low back pain can also be caused by an infection or cancer, but these two causes are very rare. Assessment by your doctor or therapist will help to identify the cause and lead to the formulation of an appropriate treatment plan that could include exercises, manual therapy or injections.