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My family has a pretty long history of back pain from disc problems. Would there be any point in having some testing done now while I'm in my 30s to see what shape my discs are in?

The role of heredity and genetics in disc degeneration has taken a front seat in the last few years. We are paying a lot more attention now to the family history link.

But it's not clear yet just how this information will help. A family history of back problems doesn't necessarily mean you will develop them, too.

A long-standing belief that occupational lifting or manual labor contributes to back problems has come under question as well. These types of activities may not harm you as much as they help.

Research is showing that physical loading through work-related and leisure activities may actually benefit the discs. Repeated mechanical stress increases the number of cells in the nucleus pulposus (center of the disc). More studies are needed to understand the role of loading and metabolic response.

A recent study of twins done in Finland showed that increased body weight and aging may be the two most important factors in the health of your discs. You can't do much about your age, but keeping your body weight down is a good idea. Not only will your spine benefit, but so will your heart health and general health!

But to answer your question, X-rays and MRIs will help show disc height and hydration. Just how this information will help is still a little sketchy. There's still so much we don't know about which discs are at risk, why, and how to tell.

If you did have this type of imaging done, how would it change what you are already doing? At age 30-something, you have time on your side right now. Armed with the knowledge that this is a potential problem in your family, weight loss and staying active are your two most important preventative tools.

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