Women vs Men: Who Has More Back Pain?

Back pain is something almost all of us deal with at some point in our lives. From muscle tension to stiffness, back pain can affect our physical and mental health. Qualities such as overall health, age, weight, family history, career, and activity level, all play a role in a person’s specific amount of back pain. But which sex suffers from more back pain overall?

Women and Men’s Health in General

Generally speaking, women tend to lead healthier lifestyles than men. Part of this is because our culture places such importance on the outward appearance of women. Women face more complex criticism for their weight and “having it all together”. But also, women are more inclined to be open to a combination of physical and mental health mechanisms. You’re likelier to see a woman attend a yoga practice and get a smoothie. And more women go to therapy to try and cope with past and present stressors.

Men, on the other hand, face different obstacles regarding their health. How many men do you know that can eat anything without gaining weight? Meaning more men than not can get away without focusing as much on their nutrition while keeping their aesthetic appearance. Something else that men face is the stress of their career and always feel the pressure to up their financial situation. While gender roles are progressing, there are still a number of men who face the pressure of being the main provider for their families.

But Who Has More Back Pain?

Regardless of who has the healthier lifestyle, women tend to face more back pain than men. And it’s no coincidence that more women suffer from chronic pain and musculoskeletal issues than men. Their pain stems from factors such as:

• Gender role “norms”
• Family medical history
• Stress (chronic or situational)
• Muscular strength
• Menstrual cycle fluctuation
• Pregnancy and childbearing
• Physical stress
• Skeletal degeneration due to menopause

The Pain of Being a Woman

If you’re a woman, you know the pain we can face daily. When we are young, we face back pain in response to our menstrual cycles beginning and stabilizing. And during pregnancy, that pain only increases with our changing bodies. We can feel the discomfort and pain from both the physical stressors of childbearing and abdominal weight gain and posture changes. During difficult childbirth, women may suffer from coccydynia, a tailbone injury. And finally, postmenopausal women have a loss of estrogen, accelerating the degeneration of their spine and bones. This lower bone density and osteoarthritis means several other back conditions, including degenerative spondylolisthesis and piriformis syndrome.

Chiropractic Care and Pain and Stress Reduction

Women are more busy, active, and stressed than ever. Between exercise and physical activity to motherhood labor and sitting at desks all day at work, our bodies go through a lot. Several things can cause the spine’s misalignment of one or more vertebrae. These include:

• The way you sleep
• Daily wear and tear
• Toxins
• Illness
• Stress

Chiropractic can get a woman’s body back in line, no matter the cause. And remember, there is a direct correlation between the pain you feel and the stress you’re under. You may feel pain and discomfort if you’re under a lot of stress. And if you’re stressed, more often than not, your mental health may suffer too. Chiropractic care can help relieve the side effects of stress – especially if you tend to carry that stress in your neck or back.

Let Zock Family Chiropractic Help You!

Chiropractic care is focused on allowing our spine and nerves to work optimally. This results in not only allowing our organs to function but for them to function to their best ability. Dr. Zock and Dr. Katie would love to discuss your concerns about resetting your health. Their vast knowledge of natural supplementation and body processes makes them an excellent guide in helping you make the best choices for your body. Make an appointment in Cranberry today to schedule an introductory chiropractic treatment session. We can discuss your pains and needs as part of the initial chiropractic workup for you as a new patient in our practice!

* The Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated this information. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please contact a medical professional for advice.