Common Causes of Back Pain

Woman leaning over to prune plants in her garden

Back pain is one of the most common reasons for primary care and emergency care consultations. It can arise from a wide range of causes in adults and children, most are mechanical in nature or have a nonspecific origin. Mechanical back pain comprises 90% of cases, so health providers can easily miss rare causes while focusing on common etiologies.¹

Explore the common causes of back pain below to best prepare yourself to care for your patients.

Understanding the causes and types of back pain

What causes back pain and where is the pain typically located?
The anatomy of the back and spine is quite complex, and problems with any of these structures can cause back pain. The four regions of the spine include the cervical spine (upper back), thoracic spine (middle back), lumbar spine and sacrum & coccyx (low or lower back). The key parts of the spine and back include vertebrae, the spinal cord, intervertebral discs, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. All of these structures work together to support our bodies.¹

Back pain can result from a range of condition classifications, including:²

Traumatic injuries, e.g. injuries resulting from a fall, car accident or overactivity

Degenerative conditions, e.g. disk herniation

Oncologic conditions, e.g. spinal tumors

Inflammatory conditions, e.g. spinal arthritis

Metabolic conditions, e.g. osteoporosis and osteosclerosis

Referred pain, e.g. organ inflammation caused by lung disease

Postural conditions, e.g. pregnancy and occupational-related pain

Congenital conditions, e.g. congenital scoliosis and spina bifida

Psychiatric conditions, e.g. chronic pain syndromes

In addition to the causes of back pain, back pain can be further categorized by duration:¹

Acute back pain happens suddenly and usually lasts a few days to a few weeks

Subacute back pain can come on suddenly or over time and lasts 4 to 12 weeks

Chronic back pain may come on quickly or slowly, lasts longer than 12 weeks and occurs daily

Healthcare professionals should carry out thorough physical examination including a comprehensive review of the patient’s medical history (including family medical history and occupational history) to determine the cause of a patient’s back pain. These measures should help to identify key details like when the back pain began, as well as what tends to provoke and/or alleviate the pain. Details assist in the development of a patient-centered pain management and/or treatment plan beyond helping healthcare professionals work towards a proper diagnosis.