Lower Back Pain in Women

Lower back pain in women is quite common. In fact, lower back pain in both genders is quite common. Studies have shown that close to eighty percent of all people will experience lower back pain at least one time in their lives. There are a number of causes that could contribute to lower back pain in women.

Some of the causes of lower back pain in women are muscle, nerve and ligament stress in the lower back, a sudden back injury like a fall or something caused by an automobile accident, arthritis, any job that requires repetitive movement or sitting in chairs that do not promote good posture or standing for long periods of time. There are also some distinctly female causes for lower back pain in women like fibroid tumours, menstrual cramps, pregnancy and endometriosis.

You should always see a doctor when you experience lower back pain. Even though most of the time it is caused by routine wear and tear on the muscles, sometimes lower back pain in women (and men) is a sign of something more serious. A doctor can look you over and make sure that you are okay. You should always go to the emergency room if your lower back pain comes on suddenly or if it is accompanied by any sort of numbness in your extremities, flu like symptoms or if you experience a loss of control over your bowels. Those conditions when paired with lower back pain are a good reason to rush you to the nearest hospital's emergency room.

There are a great number of treatments for lower back pain in women. Treatments can include rest, ice, heat, an over the counter medicine like Advil or Naproxen and regular exercise. There are specialists in lower back pain who advocate acupuncture, seeing a chiropractor on a regular basis and taking up muscle and strength building activities like Yoga and Tai-chi.

There are also plenty of ways to prevent lower back pain in women. Women should get regular exercise, even before the pain starts. Regular exercise will keep her muscles strong and help fend off any stress or strain on the muscles in the back. She should always practice proper posture. Her office chair should be ergonomically correct and she should always walk and sit with a tall, straight back. She should do her best to maintain a healthy body weight (this can be worked out with her doctor) and should not smoke. Smoking can lead to other health hazards that will increase the risk of her contracting lower back pain. Above all else, she should always remember to lift with her knees, not with her back.

Lower back pain in women is quite common. As previously stated, eighty percent of the world's adult population will experience lower back pain at least once. As it turns out, our parents and teachers were right after all. Standing up straight, lifting with our knees and getting regular exercise really will be important in our adult lives.