The lower back, also caled the lumbar regon, is the area of the back that starts below the ribs. Almost everyone has low back pain at some point in their lives. It is one of the main causes of absenteeism in the world. Fortunately, often the condition improves on it's own and gets better. If this does not happen, your doctor can help with several effective treatments. The pain can range from dull aches to a feeling of stinging or shooting pain. Pain may make it difficult to move or just stand up straight. Pain that suddenly appears is „acute“ and can occur either during sports or lifting heavy loads. The pain itself, wich lasts longer than 3 months, is considered „chronic“. If the pain does not go away within 72 hours, you should consult a doctor. Depending on the causes, paine can be divided into nonspecific and specific. Changes in the structure of the spine are mainly associated with specific pain, while non specific ones are those for which no cause can be found. Risk factors associated with low back pain can be divided into psychosocial (attitude to pain, job satisfacton, cognitive functions themselves, stress, depression, etc. ) individul factors (gender, age, education, weakness of the back and abdominal muscles, smoking), and the factors associated with the load (strenght and mode of load at work or in leisure activities and the specificity of the work performed). When it comes to the goal of treatment, then in acute low back pain, it is pain reduction, while in chronic low back pain, recovery of function is in the first place.