In the western world, 80% of the population will experience disabling lower back pain during their lives!
In healthcare systems around the world, back pain is common, poorly managed and very expensive – both in terms of treatment costs, and the indirect costs of disability and lost productivity. In 2004-2005, approximately 3 million Australians reported having back pain. In 2000-2001, chronic back pain accounted for $567 million of the total Australian healthcare expenditure.
A study in ‘Spine’ on low back pain has shown that compared to those who sought care from medical doctors, chiropractic patients were more likely to be satisfied with their care, and less likely to seek care from another provider for that same episode of pain*.
*Carey, T.S., Evans, A.T., Hadler, N.M., Lieberman, G., Kalsbeek, W.D., Jackman, A.M. et al. (1996).
Acute severe low back pain: a population-based study of prevalence and care-seeking.Spine, 21, 339-344.
