The number of stresses and obstacles we face in our everyday lives means that back pain is probably more commonplace than people think. Everything from the mattress you sleep on, to the job you do can have a cumulative effect on your the different areas of the spine. Whether you are doing a lot of heavy lifting, or sitting still for long periods of time, you may be unwittingly putting unnecessary stress on your back.

Our infographic below highlights the main causes of back pain, the people most at risk from it and some of the ways you can alleviate it.