Mechanical back pain

Mechanical back pain is the most common cause of backache, and is the term used to describe all causes of back pain not involving prolapsed intra vertebral discs. It is caused by a strain of the muscles that run along the spine together with strain or sprain of the joints - called facet joints - between the vertebrae. As with all other sprains and strains it occurs because we have asked the muscles and joints to do something that they are not designed to do or they are unaccustomed to doing (like chopping wood). Painkillers are helpful to ease the acute attack, commonsense and education may prevent a recurrence.
 
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