Sep 11, 2006, 7:25 GMT
Munich, Germany Women suffer from backache more than men, with the strain of combining family and career one of the main reasons, according to German experts.
The constant sitting or standing associated with many jobs can overstrain the spinal column and encourage the back to either curve inwards or outwards.
Lifting heavy objects such as a child can overload one side of the spinal vertebrae. But backache can also be caused by menstruation or pregnancy. Meanwhile wearing high heels for long periods is also bad for the lumbar vertebrae.
Reinhard Schneiderhan, president of the Deutschen Wirbelsaeulenliga, an association that provides information and assistance to back pain sufferers, recommends visiting an orthopaedic doctor if back pain extends to the arms or legs or if it gets more acute when coughing or sneezing.
Another warning signal is when back pain is suddenly accompanied by bladder weakness or digestive problems.
Numbness in the arms, legs or in the back area as well as tension in the groin are also reasons to seek the advice of a doctor.
Back problems such as a slipped disk do not always have to be treated with open surgery, according to Schneiderhan.
A small operation lasting no more than 40 to 60 minutes, followed by a short stay on a ward, can help in many cases.
Your Talkback on this Story