Stress
A predominantly sedentary job and a lack of physical activity in daily life lead to chronic tension in the muscles of the back and pain in the spine in the absence of any disease. [5]
Stress itself is the response of the body to certain circumstances or feelings that are typically unpleasant or uncomfortable. You may not know it, but there are physical and chemical reactions that take place in your body to try to shield you from harm when you feel stressed or nervous. Adrenalin and cortisol are released, and the muscles normally tighten involuntarily. [6] This especially happens in the shoulders, neck, and down the spine. In these areas, prolonged tension can result in back pain, particularly, lower back pain. It is quite possible you have a heard a massage therapist tell someone that they have a lot of tension in their shoulders when they refer to this phenomenon.