The scourge of backache

Lower back pain and other musculoskeletal disorders are common across the ages and account for significant disability globally. They also contribute to the global burden of diseases through disability–adjusted life–years (DALYs) lived (GBD 2019 Diseases and Injuries Collaborators, 2020). It is estimated that 20.3 million people are affected in the UK, with more women affected (11.6 million) than men (8.7 million), of whom 10.2 million are aged 35-64 years and 7.4 million are aged over 65 years (Versus Arthritis, 2021). In the UK, nearly two in every ten people aged 16 years and over have reported having a long-term musculoskeletal condition, with 10 million having back pain (Versus Arthritis, 2021). There is also evidence of a deprivation gradient and ethnic variations, with those in the most deprived quintile, as well as Caucasians and Black Caribbeans having more long-term musculoskeletal conditions (Versus Arthritis, 2021).