10 Facts & Stats About Low Back Pain

10 Facts & Stats About Low Back Pain

Bodywise Physical Therapy & Wellness is an expert in returning our clients to the activities they love in the shortest time possible.  We are dedicated to give you the best physical therapy experience in our area.  Enjoy these 10 facts and statistics about low back pain.  Look for our new ebook for more ways to reduce pain in your spine.

10. Move More Often for Relief

The medical community used to recommend that you spend a week in bed when you were experiencing back pain.  It is widely known now that controlled movement is one of the most important things you can do to relieve low back pain.

9. Women Are at a Greater Risk for Low Back Pain.

According to US Department of Health and Human Services, women experience back pain at a rate of 5% higher than men.  It is assumed that the reason behind this discrepancy is the high rate of back pain during pregnancies’.  45% of women will experience low back problems during their pregnancy.  

8. Pain Medication is Not The Answer

Scientific research has shown that strong painkillers do not provide lasting relief or improvement as many of the simpler and more conservative treatments available to people do.  In many situations, pain medicine prescribed for low back pain has led to dependency and continuation of the pain cycle.  

7. 80% of People Will Experience Back Pain In Their Life

 According to this study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17445733/ up to 80% of people with experience back pain at some point in their lives.  It is estimated that 15%-20% of people will experience some type of back pain in a single year.  

6. Slipped Discs and Surgery

 In the majority of cases, slipped discs and herniated discs do not require surgery.  In fact, many back surgeons require conservative treatment like physical therapy first.  The reason for this is that many times people’s pain improves in the first 6 weeks following injury.  Sometimes faster with certain treatments.  

5. Your Back Was Meant to Bend and Lift

 You have heard “don’t lift with your back”   which is only partially true.  Your back is designed to not only provide stability but also mobility during lifting and bending.  Using the muscles and joint in the right way during these activities will not only reduce your back pain it will also prevent injury.  

4. Costs Associated with Low Back Pain are Increasing

One estimate is that $86 billion is spent annually on back pain in the U.S.  More money is lost due to missed work and decreased productivity.  In addition, more people each year are experiencing low back pain or disability.  This can be attributed to people living longer and an increasing population though.  What is known though is that physical therapy has been proven to decrease the overall costs of experiencing low back pain.

3. Low Back Pain in Kids

Although rare compared to low back pain in adults, kids do experience back pain from time to time.  The majority of these incidences are related to poor posture.  Improper carrying or excessive weight in their back-packs are another cause.  A big positive is that children and young adults respond much quicker to treatment than adults with low back pain.  Use your physical therapist to find the fastest possible way to reduce your Childs back pain.

2. What is the Cause of My Back Pain

 In the majority of cases of low back pain, people were not able to identify a specific issue.  There is many different causes of low back pain and many different ways to find back pain relief.  Using a medical professional like a physical therapist will help you navigate through the medical treatment maze towards relief.

1.Back Pain is Not Forever

 According to a study from the Lancet, Most cases of back pain are not caused by serious conditions, such as inflammatory arthritis, infection, fracture or cancer.  Back pain can be overcome and people are expected to recover fully. 

Choose Bodywise Physical Therapy

Look to Bodywise Physical Therapy & Wellness in Stratham, NH and Epping, NH for all your physical therapy needs.  We have helped thousands with low back pain return to their normal lives again.