Low back pain is not restricted to age or gender. Reports from medical research in the USA reveal that 90% of the population will at some time or the other in life consult medical practitioners with complaints of back pain, especially low back pain. Though pain in the back may occur in the upper back, mid-back or lower back, it has been found that low back pain, the kind that occurs in the lower lumbar region, is the most common type of back pain. Also, low back pain is probably the most common ailment of undetermined or unspecified causes.

Lower back pain in younger people, especially adolescents generally develops due to sports injuries and inflammations caused during sporting activities. At this time in life, people are generally active and tend to overdo sports and therefore cause distress to the lower back resulting in pain in the lower back.

Older people experience low back pain that is a natural outcome of the ageing process. It includes age related arthritis, weakening of the spinal structure, tiredness, fatigue and general weakening of the back due to ageing.

Low back pain has been found to improve with rest, and simple home treatments like back rubs and gentle massages and the use of pain medication. Doctors will often advise lower back exercises to strengthen the back and abdominal muscles to cure back pain lower.

Low back pain may be acute, sub acute or chronic, depending on the duration of the pain.
Lower back pain is not in itself a disease. Rather it is sometimes a symptom masking other disorders of the intra-abdominal area. This type of pain is called referred pain. Referred pain includes kidney back pain arising from kidney disorders, gall bladder ailments, and respiratory tract illnesses and in some cases even cardiac problems.

As a precautionary measure, if back pain is not the result of a sports or other injury, doctors will recommend more thorough diagnostic testing, including x-ray and MRI.

Lower back pain sufferers generally improve with conservative treatments which include the use of pain killers and muscle relaxants, back strengthening and relaxing exercises, Spinal Manipulation (SM) therapies, physical therapies and Yoga. Alternative therapies like acupuncture and acupressure are also an option.

If lower back pain results from injury or damage to the back, the only recourse may be surgery. Such cases include musculoskeletal system degeneration due to fractures caused by osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, degeneration of the discs, or herniated discs. Surgical options are generally used if back problems become progressively worse resulting in weakness in the legs, incontinence of the bladder or bowels that prevent the sufferer from functioning normally with life.

Pregnancy and low back pain seem to coexist. Pregnant women will experience low back pain as a normal part of pregnancy. Sometimes, low back pain in conjunction with other symptoms like spotting, vaginal discharge, menstrual type of cramping can be a warning sign of a pregnancy that is not progressing well.