Pain in the lumbar region of the spinal column is a common problem. In the Western world it is one of the main causes of job absenteeism, and related labor costs are extremely high. The spine's lumbar region supports the full weight of the upper body. That is why the five vertebrae that link the backbone with the hipbone are the largest in the entire spinal column.

Because of their extremely low position on the spinal column, the weight they bear and the way they connect to the body, the lumbar vertebrae are constantly subjected to significant wear and tear.

Together with the neck's cervical vertebrae, they are the first to suffer the effects of degeneration. The intervertebral cartilage (spinal discs) in the lumbar region is also subjected to considerable strain and can become irreversibly deformed, or herniated, which can lead to compression of the spinal cord or its nerve roots between the vertebrae.

Lumbar pain involves all the elements composing the spinal column - the muscles, joints, bones and nerve endings. That is why contractive pain of varying intensity can occur, as well as joint pain caused by trauma or disc degeneration and local or general neuralgia in the lower limbs. In mild cases, this type of pain can be easily alleviated, but when caused by nerve root compression, the symptoms can last days, months or as long as the cause persists. A sedentary lifestyle, which leads to muscle weakening and weight gain, brings on spinal column disorders as life spans increase.