Because the human spine is not really designed for a modern life (which tends to include a lot of sitting and not a lot of exercise) anyone can fall victim to a back injury. Men and women tend to be affected by back pain equally although it becomes more common in women as they age. It can occur at any age but is uncommon before puberty and most common between the ages of 30 and 50. The risk of back pain related to spinal degeneration and osteoporosis increases with age. Some other risk factors for back pain include: