Common Characteristics for Back Pain and Sciatica

Back pain is highly prevalent and associated with significant disability and work absenteeism worldwide. Investigators recently performed a systematic review and identified the following risk factors for both low back pain and sciatica: advancing age, poor general health, physical stress on the spine, and psychological stress. With the exception of age, the other characteristics are potentially modifiable and should be addressed to help reduce the risk of future episodes of low back pain and/or sciatica.  Spine Journal, May 2018