Back pain can range from a muscle aching to a shooting, burning or stabbing sensation. In addition, the pain may radiate down your leg or worsen with bending, twisting, lifting, standing or walking.

Back pain often develops without a cause. Conditions commonly linked to back pain include:

• Muscle or ligament strain. Repeated heavy lifting or a sudden awkward movement can strain back muscles and spinal ligaments. If you're in poor physical condition, constant strain on your back can cause painful muscle spasms.
• Bulging or ruptured disks. Disks act as cushions between the bones (vertebrae) in your spine. The soft material inside a disk can bulge or rupture and press on a nerve. However, you can have a bulging or ruptured disk without back pain. Disk disease is often found incidentally when you have spine X-rays for some other reason.
• Arthritis. Osteoarthritis can affect the lower back. In some cases, arthritis in the spine can lead to a narrowing of the space around the spinal cord, a condition called spinal stenosis.
• Osteoporosis. Your spine's vertebrae can develop painful fractures if your bones become porous and brittle.

Anyone can develop back pain, even children and teens. These factors might put you at greater risk of developing back pain:

• Age. Back pain is more common as you get older, starting around age 30 or 40.
• Poor biomechanics and foot function. Your feet and how they function have a huge influence on your overall posture and can impact you low back. 
• Lack of exercise. Weak, unused muscles in your back and abdomen might lead to back pain.
• Poor Posture. Your posture and how you sit, move, and stand all have an effect. 
• Excess weight. Excess body weight puts extra stress on your back.
• Diseases. Some types of arthritis and cancer can contribute to back pain.
• Improper lifting. Using your back instead of your legs can lead to back pain.
• Psychological conditions. People prone to depression and anxiety appear to have a greater risk of back pain.
• Smoking. Smokers have increased rates of back pain. This may occur because smoking prompts more coughing, which can lead to herniated disks. Smoking can also decrease blood flow to the spine and increase the risk of osteoporosis.