Non-specific low back pain

Abstract

Estimates of the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) vary considerably, depending on the data source and the definitions used. The lifetime prevalence for LBP ranges from 49% up to 84% [22], making it one of the most common medical complaints [76]. The cumulative lifetime prevalence of LBP lasting at least 2 weeks was 16% for individuals aged between 25 and 74 years [67]. Fifty percent of adults have reported experiencing LBP at some point in their life [34]. Approximately 10% of individuals report having had back pain within the previous year, and 6.8% report having LBP at any one point in time [5,28]. The incidence of LBP ranges from 28 to 30 episodes/1000 persons per year [76], being highest in male patients and in patients between 25 and 64 years of age. © 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.