Back pain in your 20s? We’ve got you covered
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Back pain can be a buzzkill – especially in your 20s when you’re out there just trying to live your best life. Turns out it’s not a middle-age problem. Young-uns can experience aches and pains too. Stick with us as we look at what could be causing your pain and, more importantly, what you can do to get rid of it.
Is it normal to have back pain in your 20s?
If you’re getting lower back pain in your 20s, or pains anywhere in your back, you may not be alone. As a physiotherapist and co-founder of Brisbane Spine Clinic, Justin Lin is a man who knows a thing or two about back pain. He says, “Some of the biggest causes of back pain for people in their 20s can be grouped into a few main categories, including daily work postures, poor quality mattresses or injury from exercise.” Let’s take a closer look at the causes: 🙅 Work posture You’ve probably heard it before, and we’re here to tell you again. The human body isn’t designed for long hours of any sustained postures or positions, whether it be sitting, standing or squatting. “More and more people in their 20s are entering the workforce where a lot of the roles are sedentary and working remotely from home is also a popular trend,” says Justin. “This means more time spent in prolonged sitting and no opportunities for fitting in a decent amount of walking and movement.” 🙅 Bad mattress You’re in your 20s, sleeping on a secondhand spring mattress you found on Marketplace, or that daggy one you’ve had since you were little. Sound familiar? We’re all for saving a buck, but keeping costs down here could be a real pain in the back! “Older or worn-out mattresses do not allow support of the spine and pose a high-risk factor for developing back pain for many young people in their 20s.” 🙅 Overtraining or sports injuries Tried to go from couch potato to CrossFit champion overnight? Justin sees an increasing number of patients in their 20s who are overloading their bodies at the gym. “Some common acute injuries as a result of this include but are not limited to low back or neck disc sprain, rotator cuff muscle or tendon injuries, knee ligament sprains, tennis elbow, hip impingement syndromes and hamstring muscle strains.” 🙅 Lack of exercise At the risk of making you feel like you can’t win, we’re also here to remind you that just as too much exercise can be a problem, not moving enough can also cause back pain in your 20s. But a win is easier than you might think. Walk or cycle to work (or even part of the way) and use the stairs instead of the lift. This incidental exercise can help keep your body pain-free. 🙅 Emotional stress Emotional stress and anxiety can be a nightmare for chronic neck and low back pain. So, don’t stress – literally. Surround yourself with supportive friends or take up stress-combatting techniques like meditation to keep stress in check. And remember, seeking help when you need it can work wonders for your back pain.
Avoid back pain by stretching, getting professional advice and investing in a decent mattress