Facts about lower back pain (LBP)

Did you know that 80% of Americans will experience significant back pain over their lifetime? Of those Americans that experience back pain, 54% of them spend their day sitting. Leaning forward in an attempt to get closer to the computer screen puts three to four times more strain on the lower back.

The number of spinal fusions has been on the rise. However, experts estimate that fewer than half of them are appropriate and research confirms that the same proportion are successful. A recent 2017 study found that Opioids provided no better pain relief for LBP than safer analgesics like NSAIDS and acetaminophen.

Exercise therapy improves back pain intensity, disability and long-term function. It is superior to traditional therapies. Strength/resistance and coordination/stabilization exercise programs are more beneficial than other interventions in the treatment of chronic LBP. Physical activity can help relieve back and neck pain, while being inactive can delay a person's recovery.