Analysis based on more than 30 years of data shows that the number of cases of low back pain worldwide is increasing. Models show that by 2050, 8 million people will be affected by the disease due to population growth and population aging.
The paper will be published in the June issue of The Lancet - Rheumatology. Low back pain is the leading cause of human disability worldwide, and researchers worry that the lack of consistent treatments will lead to a medical crisis. At least one-third of the disability burden associated withlow back pain can be attributed to occupational, smoking, and overweight factors.