Back Pain

Back Pain Statistics


Back pain is a universal malady felt by people of all ages in every corner of the globe. In this article, we'll relay some statistics regarding back pain so that you can better understand the expanse of the problem.

  • In the United States of America alone, there is an expected 31 million people with lower back pain at any given time.

  • As many as fifty percent of all Americans report some type of back pain every year. While these problems may be minor and not worthy of a doctor's visit, other statistics show that roughly one third of all Americans aged 18 or older have had back problems within the past five years which merited a trip to the physician's office.

  • In addition to the physical pain that back pain can cause, the financial strain of the problem is also quite resounding. Over fifty billion dollars are spent per year in the pursuit of clearing up cases of back pain.

  • Many experts place the likelihood of any person to experience some type of back problem throughout their lifetime at about eighty percent. That's four out of every five people!
  • In the year 2001, the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey showed that 13,707,000 people visited an emergency room or a doctor with a case of back pain.

  • Surveys have shown that back pain is the most frequently occurring reason why people younger than age 45 don't participate in as many activities as they would like to.

  • A study that was performed in Canada showed that between thirty and forty percent of all work absences were due to workers suffering from a back pain related injury.

  • Patient handling, lifting, and transferring accounts for approximately 35 percent of all the time loss claims made in the medical profession.



Now that you know more about the prevalence of back pain and the problems that it causes in the workplace, you can better understand the true expanse of the problem. The best ways to prevent back pain are to maintain good posture and be sure to lift with your legs as opposed to your back alone. If you are having a problem with back pain that isn't going away with regular rest, you should speak to a doctor.

Back pain can be debilitating so it's important to consider any prolonged back pain a serious condition. Remember that statistics may be skewed due to the sampling methods and the authenticity of the studies. The information above was taken from reliable sources but it's important to note that they may be off to a small degree.



 

BACK PAIN (home)

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Back Pain In Men And Women

Thoracic Back Pain

Low Back Pain

Back Pain Misconceptions

More Back Pain Misconceptions

No personal medical advice about back pain is intended.