What Is Back Pain?

Back pain is pain felt in the back. Your back is composed of many structures that all work together to support your body. This includes your: vertebrae, spinal cord, intervertebral discs, ligaments, muscles, and tendons. Problems with any of these structures can cause back pain, including injuries, inflammatory conditions such as ankylosing spondylitis, infections, and tumors and cancers.

Back pain can range from mild to severe, affect different parts of the back, and last a few days to years. The bottom part of your back typically has just five vertebrae — fewer than your neck and mid-back. And these vertebrae do a lot of heavy lifting! Your lower back is where your spine connects to your pelvis, bearing the weight of your upper body. This area experiences a lot of movement and stress, which may lead to wear, tear, and injuries.

You might avoid back pain or prevent its recurrence by improving your physical condition and learning and practicing proper body mechanics and keep your back healthy and strong:

• Proper footwear. Wearing shoes that provide arch support can help keep your legs and back aligned properly. Shoes with extra cushioning can help minimize the impact when walking or running and reduce the risk of back pain.
• Custom orthotics. Custom orthotics can be worn inside the shoes to add support to the arches and to help you maintain proper posture. They can relieve pain in the feet, legs, and lower back.
• Exercise. Certain exercises can be done to correct imbalances, such as the foot pointing inward or outward, or to correct problems with a posture that affects the lower back.
• Maintain a healthy weight and eat a nutritious diet with a sufficient daily intake of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D to promote new bone growth.
• Quit smoking. Smoking reduces blood flow to the lower spine, which can contribute to spinal disc degeneration. Smoking also increases the risk of osteoporosis and impedes healing. Coughing due to heavy smoking also may cause back pain.