Low back pain has a significant impact on people’s ability to work and quality of life, becoming one of the main causes of temporary and even permanent disability.
Initially, the issue was addressed in The Lancet in 2018, where scientists emphasized the importance of consulting experts, self-control, and a psychological approach to the issue.
However, despite these recommendations, treatments of dubious efficacy such as bed rest, opioids, and spinal injections continue to be used worldwide.
Such methods can slow the healing process and increase the risk of injury in the long run.
The incidence of low back pain in 2020 is estimated to be 619 million worldwide, an increase of 60.4% compared to 30 years ago. At the same time, the prevalence of back pain has declined slightly, at 10.4% since 1990.
Interestingly, women suffer from back pain more often than men, especially in the older age group (over 75 years).
But more interestingly, given the expected changes in the population, the total number of back pain cases should reach 840 million by 2050, an increase of 36.4% by the way. This increase may be affected by both identified risk factors and incorrect approaches to diagnosis and treatment.
Source: Ferra
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