The Cause of Lower Back Pain in Athletes and Sedentary Individuals

While most people see lower back pain as this one condition that always results from the same thing, that isn’t always the case. Pain in the lower back region can result from numerous things and vary from person to person.

For example, the leading cause of lower back might be poor posture in sedentary individuals and overexertion in athletes—context matters.

So, let’s dive into the topic and explore lower back pain.

The Main Causes Of Lower Back Pain In Athletes

Lower back pain is relatively common in athletes and can occur for various reasons. One such is overexertion, which impacts the muscles and connective tissues in the area.

Athletes might experience stiffness, soreness, and pain in their lower back. Such pain is typically nothing to be worried about because it goes away within a few days, and athletes can resume their regular training.

Another cause of temporary lower back pain in athletes is sudden movement that strains a muscle. Examples include sudden jerks, falls, or collisions with other athletes. Such minor injuries are somewhat common in sports where athletes perform a variety of dynamic movements.

A more concerning cause of lower back pain relates to improper form. For instance, if an athlete deadlifts with poor technique, they can cause undue stress on the lower back, leading to pain. Training like that for a long time can result in severe injuries, such as disk herniation.

Sciatica can also cause lower back pain in athletes. The condition occurs when there is irritation to the sciatic nerve, leading to pain originating from the lower back and running down the legs. In less severe cases, the condition occurs because a small muscle in the glute region spasms and puts pressure on the nerve. This is known as piriformis syndrome.

The Primary Reasons Why Sedentary Individuals Deal With Lower Back Pain

A common reason for lower back pain in sedentary individuals is poor sitting posture. Countless desk workers complain of back and neck pain precisely because they maintain a hunched posture for hours on end. Doing so results in the stiffening of crucial muscles related to posture and pressure on nerves. On top of that, poor posture can stress the spine, leading to severe conditions like degenerative disk disease, slipped disks, or disk herniations.

Another common reason for lower back pain is muscle strain. A lower back strain can occur suddenly, typically in people unaccustomed to physical activity. So, when they do something physical, such as picking something off the floor or playing sports, they are more likely to strain a muscle and experience lower back pain.

The third somewhat common cause of lower back pain in sedentary individuals is the onset of osteoporosis––a condition characterized by weak and brittle bones. Some research suggests that osteoporosis is more likely to occur in sedentary individuals, but it could also come because of low calcium intake, gastrointestinal issues, etc.

In such cases, people experiencing lower back pain are more likely to suffer from more frequent bone fractures, brittle nails, weaker grip, and more.

Check out our Rehab & Training Guide for simple yet effective exercises that will help you prevent injuries and get the most out of your training.