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Review
. 2010 Nov;21(4):659-77.
doi: 10.1016/j.pmr.2010.08.002.

Epidemiology of spine care: the back pain dilemma

Janna Friedly  1 , Christopher Standaert, Leighton Chan
Affiliations
Review

Epidemiology of spine care: the back pain dilemma

Janna Friedly et al. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2010 Nov.

Abstract

In this article, the epidemiology of back pain and the use of a variety of treatments for back pain in the United States are reviewed. The dilemma faced by medical providers caring for patients with low back pain is examined in the context of epidemiologic data. Back pain is becoming increasingly common and a growing number of treatment options are being used with increasing frequency in clinical practice. However, limited evidence exists to demonstrate the effectiveness of these treatments. In addition, health-related quality of life for persons with back pain is not improving despite the availability and use of an expanding array of treatments. This dilemma poses a difficult challenge for medical providers treating individual patients who suffer from back pain.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Percentage of the US population with LBP. (From Katz S, editor. The burden of musculoskeletal diseases in the United States. Rosemont (IL): Bone and Joint Decade, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; 2008. Copyright © 2008 American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons; Modified with permission from The Burden of Musculoskeletal Diseases in the United States. Source of data: National Center for Health Statistics, National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, 1998-2004.)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Cumulative number of ESI systematic reviews and RCTs. (From Friedly J, Chan L, Deyo R. Increases in lumbosacral injections in the Medicare population: 1994 to 2001. Spine 2007;32(16):1756.)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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