Can osteoarthritis be diagnosed in the lower back?

Lumbar osteoarthritis, or spinal osteoarthritis, is the degeneration of the joints and cartilage in the lumbar spine, according to Spine-health. It is one of the most common causes of back pain in individuals over the age of 60.

Lumbar osteoarthritis develops when overuse of spinal bones, called facet joints, causes the bones to lose the cartilage cushioning between them, informs Spine-health. Spinal movements force the uncushioned bones to rub together. This reduces range of motion in the lumbar spine and induces pain in the lower back. Lumbar osteoarthritis most commonly develops with advancing age, spinal trauma and repetitive spinal movements, notes WebMD.