Your Lower Back Aches If You Have A Spine Like A Chimp's

Do you have a back ache? Then you most probably have a spine like a chimpanzee's. 

That really isn't too bad, as the chimp is "our closest ape ancestor", according to bbc.

There may be a lesion in the disc between the bones of the spine, called a Schmorl's node. "They are most often seen in people who have a slipped disc and can be a general sign of degeneration in the spine which has led to the different shape," according to nhs.

It probably led to the changes in the vertebrae, even as humans went on from using four legs and began to stand on two legs.

"But our knuckle-walking ape cousins don't suffer nearly as much. One explanation is that our back problems are due to the extra stress placed on our backs from standing upright," explains nhs.

Researchers agree that their findings could give an insight into the reason for back problems. Published in BMC Evolutionary Biology, the research was conducted by scientists from Scotland, Canada and Iceland.

During the study, the team examined the vertebrae of chimpanzees, orangutans and ancient human skeletons to find out the links between "the shapes of the bones of the spine, upright movement and the health of the human spine."

Prof Mark Collard, from the University of Aberdeen and Simon Fraser University in Canada, noted that they had given important observations of our forefathers' health and lifestyles.

"Our findings show that the vertebrae of humans with disc problems are closer in shape to those of our closest ape relatives, the chimpanzee, than are the vertebrae of humans without disc problems."

Prof Collard said: "Our study suggests that the pathological vertebrae of some people may be less well adapted for walking upright."

Their research could benefit modern health issues and also be an important predictive tool for back aches.