What Are the Risk Factors for Back Pain? Although anyone can have back pain, a number of factors increase your risk. They include: Age: The first attack of low back pain typically occurs between the ages of 30 and 40. Back pain becomes more common with age. Fitness level: Back pain is more common among people who are not physically fit. Weak back and abdominal muscles may not properly support the spine. "Weekend warriors" – people who go out and exercise a lot after being inactive all week – are more likely to suffer painful back injuries than people who make moderate physical activity a daily habit. Studies show that low-impact aerobic exercise is good for the discs that cushion the vertebrae, the individual bones that make up the spine. Diet: A diet high in calories and fat, combined with an inactive lifestyle, can lead to obesity, which can put stress on the back. Heredity: Some causes of back pain, including disc disease, may have a genetic component. Race: Race can be a factor in back problems. African American women, for example, are two to three times more likely than white women to develop spondylolisthesis, a condition in which a vertebra of the lower spine – also called the lumbar spine – slips out of place. Contact our local chiropractor to help relieve your chronic back pain