Lower back pain when walking can be caused by a variety of factors. If your pain comes on as you walk – eg. you start pain-free but are aching by the end – then muscular fatigue could be to blame, explains Helen O’Leary, a physiotherapist and pilates instructor at Complete Pilates.

“When you are walking, your core – which encapsulates the entire trunk area from the front, sides, top, bottom and back – holds you upright,” she says. “Over time these muscles can get tired, especially if they are weaker. There is also a compressive force (gravity) acting on the spine as you stand upright, so your core muscles need to be strong enough to withstand that for long periods.”

Other factors such as poor posture, tight hip flexors or improper footwear can also lead to discomfort, as can underlying conditions including sciatica, spinal stenosis or herniated discs.

The common causes of lower back pain when walking, and how to deal with it