Back pain: the facts

Each year, 49 per cent of adults report lower back pain lasting for at least 24 hours, says Dr Jane Reeback, of the back-pain charity BackCare.

Those most at risk are people with skilled, manual, partly skilled and unskilled jobs.

People who drive more than 25,000 miles a year were off work with a bad back more than 22 days a year, on average, compared with three days off for those who didn't drive much.

Half the office workers who use a telephone for at least two hours a day and also use a computer report back pain.

If you are a sufferer, you should first see your GP. Recommended treatment includes painkillers -ask your pharmacist for the correct type and amount you should take - and continuing with daily activities.

You should remain at work, or return as soon as possible. Manipulation by a qualified osteopath or chiropractor can help. Bed rest makes matters worse, although a survey in 1998 showed that GPs still recommend bed rest to one in four people who consulted them about lower back pain.

The longer someone is off work with back pain, the lower their chances of returning to work.

And patients who return to normal activities feel healthier, take fewer painkillers, and are less distressed than those who limit their activities.

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