Why Do You Have a Stiff Back?

A stiff back may start out as nothing more than an annoyance, but depending on the cause it can turn into something much more serious.

If this is a lingering problem, you don’t want to waste any time finding out what’s going on. You may be surprised to learn that you require immediate medical attention, hopefully before the problem worsens.

Here are some of the more common reasons for back stiffness:

·      Lumbar herniated disc. Over time, the outer ring of a disc can wear down, eventually cracking. This can cause extreme stiffness, often associated with pain. Unfortunately, this problem won’t resolve on its own, so you’ll need to seek medical attention.

·       Poor posture. Do you sit for long periods of time, such as at a computer desk? Do you typically feel stiffness in your back upon standing up? Poor sitting posture can put strain on your spine and lower back muscles, thus leading to stiffness that’s hard to shake.

·      Back trauma. Were you recently involved in a fall? How about a motor vehicle accident? If you suffer any type of blow to your back, even if it doesn’t appear serious at first, it can result in stiffness.

It may be your hope that your back stiffness goes away in time, but you don’t want to wait too long to seek medical advice. Putting this off could cause more pain and discomfort – and that’s not what you want.