Who has back and neck pain?
Anyone can have back or neck pain. Still, some things increase your chance of having pain: • Getting older. The older you are, the more likely you are to have back or neck pain. • Poor physical fitness. Lack of exercise and poor posture increase your risk of back pain. • Being overweight. Extra weight puts extra stress on your spine. • Your job. A job that requires you to lift, push, or pull can be risky. But so can a desk job – especially if you don’t sit up straight or get up very often. • Smoking. If you smoke, your spine may not withstand injury or heal as quickly as a non-smoker’s. • Previous injury. An injury you had months or years ago may put you at risk for back problems later on. • Diseases. Arthritis, osteoporosis, cancer, and some other diseases can increase your chance of having back pain. • Family history and genetics. Some conditions run in families or ethnic groups.
