As we age, aches and pains start to haunt us. Over time, standing up will take longer, bending over will become harder, and even gentle exercise will leave you gasping. Such are the joys of getting older.

Sometimes, though, our pain seems more than the norm. Sure, aches and cricks are normal. But, if you’re in extreme pain with a particular ailment, there may be more than age at play. Most commonly, many of us experience severe back pain. As you can see from sites like thegoodbody.com, 8 out of 10 Americans experience this at some stage. More than merely causing trouble when bending, these can leave us immobile. Worse, the cause is often right in front of our faces.

If you’ve got recurring back problems and don’t understand why, take a closer look at your lifestyle. The chances are that something triggers the issue on a regular basis. But, you’ll need to get your detective hat on to find out what it is. To help you get to the bottom of things, let’s look at the clues.

In the Home

In the dining room, with the candlestick. Okay, perhaps not. But, your home could be the cause. Or, at least, the things within it. Something as simple as the wrong mattress can be to blame. If your pain is worse in the mornings, find a replacement. To make sure your next choice doesn’t cause the same issue, head to sites like mattress-guides.net, and find out about the best options. If you go for something like a memory foam mattress, you can be sure to cure your back in no time. Pay attention, also, to your sofa. A low, or soft option may seem comfortable, but they aren’t the best for posture. A firm, upright choice would serve better.

In the Office

You should also look at your work office through that magnifying glass. If you sit down for extended periods, it’s sure to do some damage. In fact, office work is one of the leading causes of lower back pain. If you can barely move at the end of the working day, this may be the issue. Bear in mind that lousy office chairs only worsen matters. If you think your chair doesn’t offer enough support, take the issue to management. They have a responsibility to provide adequate and safe seating. Think, too, about exercises like those found at www.ft.com. Do these at regular intervals throughout the day to ensure your back doesn’t suffer.

Out and About

If you’ve scrutinised the above and still haven’t found the culprit, take the search outside. There are many outside activities which can cause damage. Sadly, it can be difficult to take control in such situations. But, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Tasks like weekly shopping can cause us to strain muscles. This is especially true if you make your bags too heavy. To avoid the issue, try spreading the weight, or investing in a shopping trolley to help you carry it all.