According to an analysis of data from an eleven-year study involving over 3,000 Finnish adults, researchers observed the following with regards to low back pain (LBP) and radicular pain: the risk of LBP declines slightly with age, while the risk of lumbar radicular pain increases over time; abdominal obesity increases the risk of LBP, while general obesity raises the risk of both LBP and lumbar radicular pain; the use of vibratory tools increases the risk of lumbar radicular pain; smoking and strenuous physical work both increase the risk for LBP and lumbar radicular pain; and walking or cycling to work reduces the risk of LBP.
Arthritis Care & Research, July 2018