While back pain can affect anyone, older adults (especially 50-75+), people with physically demanding jobs, those with sedentary lifestyles, overweight individuals, and smokers suffer the most, with the highest impact seen in older populations, particularly those around 80-85 years old, and women experiencing it more frequently than men in some age groups.
Risk factors
Stress level: If you chronically have poor sleep, depression, or anxiety, back pain can be more frequent and more severe. Age: Back pain becomes more common with age, particularly after the age of 45. Heredity: Genetics play a role in some disorders that cause back pain.
About 16% of Australians (4 million) are currently affected by back problems, and about 70 to 90% of people are expected to experience low back pain at some point during their lifetime (AIHW 2023; ACSQHC 2021).
A UTI usually causes burning or painful urination, and a strong urge to urinate even if your bladder is empty. UTIs can also cause pain in the abdomen, pelvis and lower back.
Most infections involve the lower urinary tract — the bladder and the urethra. Women have a higher risk of getting UTIs than men. A urinary tract infection that affects the bladder can be painful and annoying. But if the infection spreads to the kidneys, the condition can be serious.
Neurogenic Bladder Disorder
NBD is often caused by spinal cord injuries , which affect the body's ability to carry nerve signals. Herniated discs, lumbar tumours, and spinal fractures may also cause back pain and spinal nerve damage, leading to bladder dysfunction.
The nations with the highest age-standardised rates of prevalence per 100 000 were Hungary (14 000; 95% UI 12 600 to 15 500) followed by Czechia (13 100; 11 600 to 14 700), whereas the ones with the lowest age-standardised rates of prevalence were Maldives (5050; 4460 to 5730) and Myanmar (5090; 4530 to 5780).
Australia's top three causes of death consistently include Dementia (including Alzheimer's disease), Ischaemic Heart Disease, and Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases (like COPD), though their exact ranking can shift, with dementia often leading for women and heart disease for men, but the overall gap narrowing significantly, according to recent ABS data.
The "Big 3" for lower back pain, developed by spine biomechanics expert Dr. Stuart McGill, are core-stabilizing exercises: the Curl-Up, Side Plank (Side Bridge), and Bird-Dog, designed to build core strength and endurance without excessive spinal stress, helping reduce pain and improve function. They focus on creating a stable "spine bridge" by engaging abdominals, obliques, and back muscles to protect the spine during movement.
Similarly, trauma stored in the lower back is often associated with feelings of insecurity, lack of support, and financial stress. People who struggle with chronic lower back pain may be carrying unresolved emotions linked to past experiences of instability or fear.
Sciatica. Sciatica is pain, tingling or numbness caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve in the lower back. It can result from a herniated disc pressing against the nerve roots, spinal stenosis, arthritis or an injury-induced pinched nerve.
Who is Most at Risk for Back Pain?
A common cause of back pain is an injury like a pulled muscle (strain). Sometimes, medical conditions like a slipped disc, sciatica (a trapped nerve) or ankylosing spondylitis can cause back pain. Very rarely, back pain can be a sign of a serious problem such as a broken bone, cancer or an infection.
A recent case-control study report a positive association between being tall and low back pain referred for magnetic resonance imaging (ORa=1.6, 1.1 to 2.2)7. Results were adjusted on mental health, smoking status, somatising tendency, propensity to consult for low back pain and occupational risk factors.
Acupuncture, massage, biofeedback therapy, laser therapy, electrical nerve stimulation and other nonsurgical spine treatments can make a difference for chronic back pain. Overall, the potential benefits of these strategies far outweigh their potential risks, so they are worth exploring.
4 Top Ways to Live Longer
Dementia is one of the most feared conditions among Australian health service consumers, second only to cancer.
Most deaths in Australia, like other developed countries, occur among older people (Figure 2.1). Sixty-eight per cent of deaths registered in Australia in 2023 were among people aged 75 or over (63% for males and 74% for females). The median age at death was 79.6 years for males and 84.6 years for females (Table S2.
Back pain statistics: A global and national overview
Lower back pain is more common after the age of 45. It tends to peak at 50-55 years of age, and women experience it at a higher rate than men.
Previous researchers have uncovered disparities in the presentation and treatment of low back pain (or chronic pain), finding that African American individuals report more severe pain than Caucasian individuals.
See a health care professional if you have symptoms of a bladder problem, such as trouble urinating, a loss of bladder control, waking to use the bathroom, pelvic pain, or leaking urine.
In general, massage therapy is effective in reducing back pain caused by most musculoskeletal issues such as post-surgery or post-injury sprains, strains, tension, or tightness.
High system inflammation can also increase your risk of type 2 diabetes and arthritis, both of which increase your risk of back pain. Foods that contribute to inflammation include red meat, processed food, refined grains (like white bread), sugary beverages, conventional snack foods, and any fried food.