Back Conditions That Mainly Affect Women

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Lower back pain is a condition that affects both men and women. However, some causes of lower back pain are specific to women. Here are some of the possible causes of lower back pain in women. 

Spinal Osteoarthritis   

Osteoarthritis is commonly associated with pain in the joints. This condition can also lead to back pain. In this case, it is called spinal osteoarthritis. When a woman suffers from spinal osteoarthritis, the bones connecting their spine rub together, resulting in back pain. Spinal osteoarthritis also causes pain in the thighs, groin, and buttocks. This type of back pain mainly affects women above 45 years. One of the remedies for this condition is physical therapy.  

Piriformis Syndrome

The piriformis is a muscle within the buttocks. When a woman has pain from the piriformis muscle, they are suffering from piriformis syndrome. This condition results from hormones and changes in the pelvis during pregnancy. 

A person suffering from piriformis syndrome cannot sit for a long time. Other symptoms include excruciating pain in the back of the thighs and hips. Make sure to address these symptoms early because they get worse with time.

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

This condition is common when a woman is about to get their period. One of the symptoms of PMS is lower back pain. Other symptoms include headaches, bloating, mood swings, fatigue, anxiety, and food cravings. These symptoms usually dissipate a few days after their period starts.

Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction

The sacroiliac (SI) joint connects the spine to the pelvis. When a woman experiences pain in this area, they are suffering from sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Sacroiliac joint problems are one of the leading causes of lower back pain.

Women have a smaller sacroiliac joint area than men. This is the reason why there are higher cases of sacroiliac joint dysfunction in women than in men. Furthermore, the sacrum in women is wider, uneven, less curved, and tilted backward than in men. These factors cause problems in the sacroiliac joint.

Some of the main symptoms of SI joint dysfunction include lower back pain and pain over the belly button and down the thighs. SI joint pain worsens while a person sits, climbs stairs, or sleeps on the affected side.

In Closing

One of the ways chiropractors narrow down the causes of back pain is by identifying the conditions that mainly affect men and women. In many cases, back pain is a symptom of an underlying condition. Therefore, if you experience back pain, consult a specialist or chiropractic office, such as Cornerstone Chiropractic Center


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