HHS HealthBeat (May 06, 2009)

More aching backs

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

A survey of North Carolinians indicates more people are living with chronic low back pain – lasting three months or longer.

Timothy Carey of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill conducted telephone surveys in 1992 and 2006. Rates more than doubled – from almost 4 percent to more than 10 percent.

Carey believes that what’s found in North Carolina probably can be found elsewhere in the United States.  The rise in cases of back pain contributes to health care costs and work disability.   

But he says:

[Timothy Carey speaks] "Being physically active – even walking 20 minutes three times a week – will likely reduce risk of chronic pain."

So may weight control, to avoid obesity.

The study in Archives of Internal Medicine was supported by the National Institutes of Health and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: May, 06 2009