Back pain is one of the leading causes of disability in Australia and remains the leading cause of disability globally. It can impact quality of life, physical function, work capacity, and mental wellbeing. For some people, ongoing back pain may contribute to psychological distress, social isolation, and reduced participation in everyday activities.
Back pain is a musculoskeletal disorder that affects over 4 million Australians. Long-term back problems are estimated to cost the Australian economy $638 billion in lost productivity over the next decade.
What Are Back Problems?
Back problems are a musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) affecting the bones, joints, muscles, connective tissues, and nerves of the spine. They can occur in the neck (cervical spine), upper back (thoracic spine), lower back (lumbar spine), as well as the sacrum and tailbone.
Common examples include:
- Lower back pain
- Neck pain
- Sciatica
- Disc-related conditions
- Spinal stenosis
- Scoliosis
For about 8 in 10 Australians who suffer back pain, it’s not caused by any particular condition. This is called ‘non- specific low back pain’ which is most common in people aged 35 to 55 years, but it can affect people of all ages.
More than 3.2 million working-age Australians are expected to be living with chronic back problems by 2033, leading to a loss of approximately 4.6 percent to Australia’s Gross Domestic Product over a 10-year period.
What Causes Back Pain?
Back pain can result from a range of factors, including:
- Muscle or ligament strain
- Heavy physical work
- Frequent lifting, bending, or twisting
- Poor posture
- Prolonged sitting, including office work or gaming
- Physical inactivity
- Excess body weight
- Age-related changes
Stress may also play a role, along with certain health conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis, or disc-related problems.
Back problems can cause lost social and physical activity, concentration and work capacity and are a significant cause of disability and lost productivity.
Why Can Back Pain Affect Mental Health?
The relationship between back pain and mental health is well documented. Research suggests that people living with persistent back pain may be at greater risk of experiencing mental health challenges such as stress, anxiety, or low mood.
Some people may become concerned about how pain will affect their daily life, work, or future wellbeing. Others may experience frustration, irritability, or feelings of helplessness when pain limits their activities.
Persistent pain can contribute to psychological distress, while mental health challenges may influence how pain is experienced. This can create a cycle where pain and emotional wellbeing affect one another.
Chiropractic healthcare is an effective, gentle, drug-free option that can help prevent chronic back pain and limit the impact back pain has on mental health. If back pain is impacting your mental ill-health, consult your GP.
How Common Is Back Pain?
Back pain is very common, with around one in six Australians reporting back problems.
For many people, back pain can arise suddenly (acute back pain) and improves within three to six weeks. However, recurring episodes are common, and some individuals experience symptoms that persist for longer than three months.
Symptoms may include:
- Pain and stiffness
- Muscle soreness or spasms
- Difficulty turning or bending
- Reduced mobility
- Pain that travels into one or both legs, such as with sciatica
Can Pain Medication Alone Treat Back Pain?
Pain medication may provide temporary symptom relief for some people, but it is not always the most appropriate long-term management strategy. Research from leading university studies suggests that opioids do not relieve ‘acute’ low back pain (lasting up to 12 weeks) but may exacerbate the condition leading to increased pain and may cause harm.
Current clinical guidelines generally recommend a combination of approaches, including staying active, exercise, education, and appropriate healthcare management, depending on the individual's condition and needs.
Who Is Most at Risk of Back Pain?
Working Australians doing strenuous physical work that strain the spine including lifting, repetitive actions, bending, squatting, standing and even sitting for extended periods.
Older Australians aged over 65 years commonly experience chronic low back pain.
Inactive Australians who don’t exercise and spend long hours sitting can develop poor posture, weight gain and musculoskeletal problems including chronic back pain.
How Can Chiropractors Help?
Chiropractors are five-year university educated healthcare professionals who treat a range of musculoskeletal disorders including back pain. They play a vital role in managing the spinal health of Australians of all ages.
Depending on the individual's needs, chiropractic care may include:
- Spinal and musculoskeletal assessments
- Manual therapy and adjustments where appropriate
- Exercise and movement advice
- Postural and ergonomic recommendations
- Education to support spinal health and overall wellbeing
Management plans are tailored to each person based on their symptoms, health history, and goals.
When Should You Seek Help?
If back pain is ongoing, worsening, affecting your daily activities, or impacting your mental wellbeing, seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional.
Early assessment and appropriate management may help you stay active, maintain mobility, and support your overall health and wellbeing.
To book a Chiropractic or Neuro-Emotional Technique (NET) appointment with Dr Elena click here.
Neuro Emotional Technique (NET) can help to identify, and help you let go of, 'stuck' mind-body stress patterns.
When our body fails to 'let go' of stress responses, such as fear, anger, grief or many other emotions, we can find ourselves with unexplained aversions, self-sabotaging behaviours, destructive beliefs, phobias and many chronic physical problems.