Roughly eight out of 10 people will suffer significant back pain at least once in their lifetime but there are ways to reduce the risk, said Dr. Mark Knaub of Penn State Hershey Medical Center. Physical therapy can reduce the risk of back pain becoming chronic, he suggested. Being depressed causes pain, and being in pain makes you depressed. Some studies have found that cognitive-behavioral therapy a type of talk therapy can work as well as traditional medical treatments for that type of back pain, he suggested.

Key Takeaways:

• Roughly eight out of 10 people will suffer significant back pain at least once in their lifetime—but there are ways to reduce the risk, said Dr. Mark Knaub of Penn State Hershey Medical Center.
• Muscle, ligament or tendon strains (soft tissue injuries) are the most common causes of back pain. These injuries can occur from falls or activities involving lifting, twisting or bending, said Knaub, chief of the medical center’s adult orthopedic spine service.
• When pain strikes, you can ease it with anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants.

“Roughly eight out of 10 people will suffer significant back pain at least once in their lifetime—but there are ways to reduce the risk.”

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2017-01-forward-thinking-pain.html