CHAPTER 2
BACK PAI
Back pain is a very common complaint among people of all age groups. It is,
however, more commonplace among people in their thirties and onwards.
Back pain can be disabling and places a huge burden on the world economy
because of work-days that are lost and health care costs.
Back pain is mostly due to degenerative (wear and tear) changes in the spine
and is usually part of a progressive disease. Thus, the underlying problem
responsible for back pain will slowly but surely worsen over time. It is there-
fore of paramount importance that treatment is focused on supporting the
structures of the back and to prevent excessive stress on the spine.
Back pain can be acute or chronic. Chronic back pain is pain that lasts for
more than three months. There are three types of spinal pain: mechanical back
pain, referr