7 million visits to the GP complaining of a painful back   £350 million annual cost to NHS   33,000 work-related back accidents

At least 81 million certified days incapacity Highest incidence in 16-44 age group 80% suffer recurrence Approximately 7 million visits to the GP for backs £350 million cost to NHS work related back illnesses	58,000 nurses have back injuries 3,600 nurses lost to the NHS each year £70 million cost of nurse absence £50 million cost of nurse replacement Working drivers 3 times more likely to suffer 80% of VDU workers will suffer Same prevalence in sedentary as in manual work

In 2009, 40% of adults said they had suffered from back pain lasting more than one day in the previous 12 months. 15% of back pain sufferers said they were in pain throughout the year Nearly 40% of back pain sufferers consulted a GP for help; 10% visited a practitioner of complementary medicine A third of back pain sufferers said that back pain had restricted their activity in the four weeks before the interview. Women and older people were more likely to report that back pain had restricted their activity than men and younger people

5% of back pain sufferers aged 16 to 64 in employment had taken time off work during the previous month because of back pain 13% of back pain sufferers aged 16 to 64 who said that they were unemployed in the previous month mentioned back pain as a reason why they were not in work

Back Pain and Ageing

As we grow older, the spine tends to degenerate. For example, the bones in the spine may lose some of their mass (due to osteoporosis), and the joints that link the vertebrae together can become painful due to arthritis. As a result, back pain tends to be more common in older people.  For example, the following chart plots the age of back pain sufferers against the percentage who reported chronic, or long term, back pain (chronic pain is defined as that lasting for more than 28 days in any twelve month period):    Source: UK Department of Health – The Prevalence of Back Pain in Great Britain

 

Hereditary Conditions Back pain can be caused by a number of conditions – some of them are due to ageing; others might be due to your sex (for example, 80% of people who suffer from osteoporosis are women). However, some conditions are caused by genetics – faulty genes that are passed on from one generation to the next. Problems such as these are referred to as hereditary conditions (we inherit them from our parents and, in turn, we might pass them on to our children).  The problems themselves might be congenital (that is, present at birth), or they might develop over a period of time (as you grow older). The exact timing of the problem depends on the genes that cause the condition, and when they’re turned on (or expressed).  Examples of hereditary conditions include: scoliosis (idiopathic); Scheuermann’s kyphosis; and short-leg syndrome. Please note, however, that some conditions may be caused by more than one factor – they’re not always genetic. Injury  Spinal injuries (including those to the muscles; ligaments; intervertebral discs; and joints) are very common. The chances are, you’ll either have suffered from an injury yourself, or you’ll know someone who has.  Some of the most common causes of back pain are listed below: Car accidents Sporting injuries Incorrect lifting Repetitive strain Osteoporotic fracture Road traffic accidents – often a cause of serious spinal injuries – are becoming more and more common. For example, according to the Bone and Joint Decade (an international body supported by the UN, the World Health Organisation, and the World Bank) they’ll account for up to 25% of all healthcare expenditure in developing nations by the year 2010.  Even in developed nations, the problem continues to grow. For example, in 1994, the medical cost of RTAs stood at $17bn in America; in 2000, the cost had grown to $32.6bn – an increase of roughly 65% after inflation (source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); US Dept. of Transportation).  Of the remaining causes, osteoporotic fracture and incorrect lifting are probably the most common. Osteoporosis (a condition which leads to osteoporotic fracture) is generally caused by ageing; nevertheless, it accounts for over 1.5 million fractures, or injuries, in America every year.  Incorrect lifting is actually a result of bad posture (covered below); however, the number of people who injure their backs in this way is very high. For details on how to prevent back pain, please visit our section on lifting. Obesity  It is widely recognised that people in developed countries are becoming more sedentary and adopting poorer diets – factors that have led to an increased incidence of obesity; lower muscle strength; and weaker bones.  For example, the number of adults in the UK who were clinically obese, defined by a Body Mass Index (BMI) of greater than 30 kg/m2, has trebled, from approximately 7% in 1980, to 20% in 1999:  Sources: 1 Department of Health – Secular trends in sugar intake and obesity in the UK. 2National Statistics – Obesity by social class of head of household and gender. Extreme excess weight is very bad for the back: the vertebral column is compressed and subject to increased shearing forces, both of which can lead to dysfunction of, and injury to, the spine. It should also be noted that lack of exercise, without weight gain, can also result in back pain through atrophy and dysfunction.  For details on the anatomical effects of compression (and the implications for back pain), please visit our section on the Anatomy of Back Pain. Posture  Over time, bad posture can lead to back pain and deformity.  For example, when we slouch: the joints in our spine are compressed; the intervertebral discs become squashed; and the wrong muscles are engaged. However, the effects of bad posture aren’t immediately apparent – it may take a number of years, or even decades, for pain, stiffness and other symptoms to develop. As a result, people tend to focus on more pressing matters.  Modern life tends to compound this problem. For example, many environments are ergonomically poor in the first place – they’re designed for maximum profit, not for maximum comfort. As a result, they tend to encourage bad posture, and make correction difficult.  But the good news is this – we are, to a large extent,in control of our destiny. If we choose to, we can alter our posture. For more details on how to do this (and how to change your individual activities), please visit our section on posture.

  NHS Statistics & Back Pain

Advice Sheets and Statistical Information available at John Lant & Partners

Osteopathic Patients - Statistics     In the UK, an estimated 24,000 patients consult osteopaths every working day. This amounts to nearly seven million consultations a year. Osteopaths are providing over 850,000 more consultations a year since 2007 and over 1.7 million more than in 2004 There has been an increase in patients referred by or with the knowledge of a GP or Consultant from 22% to 26%, but the majority are still 'self-referred'. The percentage of people who have heard of osteopathy and have actually received treatment has increased 25% over 2006 Whilst over 86% of patients still fund themselves, Private Health Insurance now accounts for 10.4%, an increase from 7% in 5 years 95% of patients believe that the NHS should support osteopathic treatment. Information based on the GOsC Snapshot Survey and Public Awareness Surveys