|
Back Pain Facts & Statistics
Although chiropractors care for more
than just back pain, many patients visit
chiropractors looking for relief from
this pervasive condition. In fact, 31
million Americans experience low-back
pain at any given time.
 Interesting
Facts about Back Pain:
- One-half of all working
Americans admit to having back pain
symptoms each year.
- Back pain is one of the most
common reasons for missed work. In
fact, back pain is the second most
common reason for visits to the
doctor’s office, outnumbered only by
upper-respiratory infections.
- Most cases of back pain are
mechanical or non-organic—meaning
they are not caused by serious
conditions, such as inflammatory
arthritis, infection, fracture or
cancer.
- Americans spend at least $50
billion each year on back pain—and
that’s just for the more easily
identified costs.
- Experts estimate that as many as
80% of the population will
experience a back problem at some
time in their lives.
What
Causes Back Pain?
The back is a complicated structure of
bones, joints, ligaments and muscles.
You can sprain ligaments, strain
muscles, rupture discs and irritate
joints, all of which can lead to back
pain. While sports injuries or accidents
can cause back pain, sometimes the
simplest of movements—for example,
picking up a pencil from the floor—can
have painful results. In addition,
arthritis, poor posture, obesity and
psychological stress can cause or
complicate back pain. Back pain can also
directly result from disease of the
internal organs, such as kidney stones,
kidney infections, blood clots or bone
loss.
|
Home