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What Causes Lower Back Pain In People Over 50 – What You Should Know
If you’re over 50 you may be wondering ” what causes lower back pain in people over 50″ In this post, we’ll explain what the most common causes are. Lower back pain is one of the leading causes of disability and work loss in older adults. Back and other muscle pain is often accompanied by joint, nerve, or vascular problems that may require a visit to your doctor. Vigorous physical activity, weight gain/loss, hormonal changes, osteoporosis risk factors like age-related bone loss, and poor posture are all risk factors for lower back pain.
The causes of lower back pain in people over 50 can take many factors into account: some of them such as high blood pressure which could be caused by poor eating habits or lack of exercise play a role in both younger and older adults while others such as arthritis are more likely to cause this type of pain later on in life. In fact, the biggest risk factors for this type of pain are age and lifestyle. Regardless of these factors, lower back pain can be quite debilitating.
What Causes Lower Back Pain In People Over 50 – What Causes Lower Back Pain In Older Adults?
Although not every person over 50 will experience this type of pain it is one of the most common causes of disability in older adults. Age alone cannot cause lower back pain but poor health and aging can predispose an individual to many different types of conditions that may affect their spine such as degenerative disc disease or osteoarthritis, both diseases that are more likely to appear as a person ages. Because many of the mechanisms that lead to lower back pain are the same ones that cause arthritis and degenerative disc disease, it’s important to understand what exactly causes lower back pain in older adults.
What Causes Lower Back Pain In People Over 50 – Why Do Older Adults Often Have Lower Back Pain?
As we age our muscles and joints become less stable, especially when it comes to the spine. These changes can cause bony degeneration which is what occurs when bone tissue becomes weak and porous. Because of this bone loss, ligaments that stabilize the vertebrae wear out. The ligaments which connect the spine to the pelvis are called the sacroiliac (SI) joint. Over time, this joint becomes more mobile and weak, causing less support for the spine and its contents.
Although lower back pain can affect anyone at any point in life, it can take a different form depending on certain risk factors. If you suffer from osteoporosis, for example, you’re more likely to experience a disc compression or herniation that may lead to lower back pain. In addition to being overweight or obese which puts a person at risk for osteoporosis, having low levels of estrogen may also increase one’s risk of injury from falling because this hormone is vital in preventing bone loss.
Older adults often experience low back pain because they have weakened muscles. When someone is younger and more active their muscular system works to support the spine and pelvis. Over time, however, the body loses muscle mass which means that the bones aren’t supported as well as they once were. This can eventually lead to an abnormal curvature of the spine which is called kyphosis.
What Causes Lower Back Pain In People Over 50 – Who Is Most At Risk For Lower Back Pain?
More than 60 percent of people over 50 will experience lower back pain at least once in their lifetime. However, the risk for low back pain increases dramatically at age 65. Almost one-third of individuals 65 and older will experience low back pain at least once a month.
Many diseases and chronic conditions have been linked to lower back pain including:
Osteoporosis, which occurs when a person’s bones become weak and porous due to age or disease
Arthritis, in which the joints become swollen with fluid or damaged tissue resulting in inflammation that can lead to overuse injuries that lead to less mobility and increased stiffness in joints such as knees, hips, shoulders, or wrists; weakness can also result from this condition as well as injuries like fractures; arthritis can also occur on bones other than the spine.
Osteoarthritis, which occurs as wear and tear on the joints becomes greater over time; the condition is typically more severe than osteoporosis.
Bursitis, a condition that causes inflammation in the bursa, or sacs, located around the joints of the lower back and spine.
It can be difficult to recognize these conditions in older adults because they are not always noticeable immediately, and many symptoms are similar to those of low back pain. The best way for you to assess your risk for these factors is by seeing a medical professional in order to get a proper diagnosis and receive proper treatment for these problems.
I welcome your questions or comments about this post if you have any.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only and should not be used instead of or contrary to that of a medical professional. Before taking supplements, starting a new diet, or embarking on a new exercise regime please consult a medical or nutritional professional. The owners of “Getting Healthy After 50” are not medical professionals and are simply redistributing information that is freely available on the internet.
