Euro Backpain Barometer Survey Launched By British Chiropractic Association

According to an April 11, 2008 release by the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) and reported on in the April 16, 2008 issue of the Guardian UK, Germany is the number one country for people complaining of back pain with a rate of 67 percent. The BCA reviewed the number of back pain cases by country and issued their “Euro Backpain Barometer” to highlight the results.

According to the BCA survey study, back pain in the United Kingdom is on the increase, rising by 5% in just 12 months, with 52% of the country currently suffering, compared to 47% in 2007.  Overall, the study shows that cultural differences create back problems at different rates.  The study showed the rate and order of back problem frequencies to be as follows:

1. Germany – 67%
2. Italy – 63%
3. UK – 52%
4. France – 50%
5. Finland – 50%
6. Sweden – 36%
7. Netherlands – 26%

The reasons people blame as the cause of their pain varies from country to country with Italians blaming high heels, Germans blaming sitting in front of computers for long periods of time and in the UK pregnancy is a large identified reason.

The study also shows that many do not seek help for their back problems, with most suffering for 3 to 5 years.   The BCA study notes that the Swedes are the longest suffering, with 78% claiming to have had back pain for three or more years. In Finland 11% of those with back pain have been suffering for as long as they remember and 23% of the British with back pain have been suffering for 10 or more years.

Tim Hutchful from The British Chiropractic Association comments: “Incidence of back pain is continuing to rise at an alarming rate in Britain and across Europe as a whole, and poor posture continues to be the main culprit. This study highlights what a detrimental effect back pain can have on people’s lives.”