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Approximately 60 to 80 percent of adults in the U.S. experience low back pain at some point in their lives. Most cases of low back pain are
considered acute, or temporary, but some people suffer from chronic, or ongoing, back pain. The good news is that many cases of back pain can be
prevented.
Anatomy of the spine
The lower spine, or backbone, includes five bones called the lumbar vertebrae. Between each of these vertebrae is a shock-absorbing disk
filled with a jelly-like material. There are also several nerves along the spine that, when injured, can cause pain to the lower back.
Causes
Low
back
pain
commonly
occurs
when
you
use
your
back
muscles
to
perform
activities
your
body
isn't
used
to.
These
activities
might
include
lifting
heavy
items,
playing
a new
sport,
or
doing
yard
work.
Even
normal,
routine
activities
such
as
bending
over
can
sometimes
cause
low
back
pain.
There are also some medical conditions that can cause low back pain, including muscle sprains, strains or spasms, or joint problems such as
arthritis. In addition, a slipped disk often results in low back pain. This is when a disk between the vertebrae is enlarged and presses on the
nearby nerves.
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