Back Pain Statistics in the UK

October 2006

Statistics recently released suggest that around 80% of the population will suffer from back pain at some point in their lives, with the worst times being ages 40-50.

It's blamed for one in every six days taken off work and costs companies billions of pounds every year.

The advice is also changing, from suggesting days of bed rest, to only one day in bed, followed by as much movement and activity as is comfortable.

In fact, too much bed rest can lead to further pain, stiff muscles and more unnecessary time off work.

The HSE suggested that most problems would be better served if people took a pain killer and went back to work, rather than lying in bed.

January 2007

Americans spend at least $50 billion each year on low back pain, the most common cause of job-related disability and a leading contributor to missed work. Back pain is the second most common neurological ailment in the United States — only headache is more common. Fortunately, most occurrences of low back pain go away within a few days.

Nearly everyone has low back pain sometime. Men and women are equally affected. It occurs most often between ages 30 and 50, due in part to the aging process but also as a result of sedentary life styles with too little (sometimes punctuated by too much) exercise. The risk of experiencing low back pain from disc disease or spinal degeneration increases with age.

Further Info

Back Pain Relief & Treatment - immediate help for pain in your shoulders, neck, low or upper back muscles.

Sciatica and Sciatica Exercises - causes of painful legs and back muscles, and exercises to strengthen your lower back muscles to reduce pain.