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Back pain historical perspective

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Zehra Malik, M.B.B.S[2]

Overview

Overview

Norton Hadler has written that back pain was not a common complaint in the United States till it emerged between the two world wars. He poses reasons for the medicalization of this complaint in the United States. Back pain is one of humanity’s most frequent complaints. In the U.S., acute low back pain (also called lumbago) is the fifth most common reason for all physician visits. About nine out of ten adults experience back pain at some point in their life and five out of ten working adults have back pain every year.

Historical Perspective

Historical Perspective

  • Norton Hadler has written that back pain was not a common complaint in the United States till it emerged between the two world wars.
  • He poses reasons for the medicalization of this complaint in the United States.
  • Back pain is one of humanity’s most frequent complaints. In the U.S., acute low back pain (also called lumbago) is the fifth most common reason for all physician visits. About nine out of ten adults experience back pain at some point in their life and five out of ten working adults have back pain every year.[1]


References

References

  1. A.T. Patel, A.A. Ogle. “Diagnosis and Management of Acute Low Back Pain“. American Academy of Family Physicians. Retrieved March 12, 2007.

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