Dr. Stefano Sinicropi, M.D.

Back pain is a major problem in Minnesota, the United States and across the globe. So what’s driving this increase, and more importantly, what can be done to slow the surge? In today’s blog, we explore why the back pain epidemic is only expected to worsen in the next two decades.

What’s Driving An Increase In Back Pain?

Back pain is increasing nationally and globally for a number of different reasons, including but not limited to:

• Aging Population – Baby boomers are entering their 60s and 70s, which is a prime age for back pain to rear its ugly head. The natural aging of a large population group will certainly lead to more cases of back pain.
• Obesity – Obesity rates are also on the rise, and as we’ve talked about on the blog on numerous occasions, heavier individuals are more likely to deal with back problems. Unless we get these obesity numbers under control, we can expect back pain issues to rise in relation to obesity rates.
• Technological Reliance – As technology continues to improve, we tend to lean on it for more and more tasks each day. If we spend more time on a computer or hunched over our cell phones, that can increase the strain on our cervical and lumbar spine. As the world becomes more attached to technology, the more likely it is that our backs will suffer because of it.
• Poor Posture – Poor posture habits will also lead to more cases of back pain in the future. While technology oftentimes leads to poor posture habits, the other two factors on this list can exacerbate the problems caused by poor posture. If you’re older or overweight and aren’t paying attention to your posture, don’t be surprised if back pain develops. Until we become more aware of healthy spinal alignment, we can expect posture problems to continue.
• Sedentary Lifestyle – Many of the above factors can contribute to a sedentary lifestyle, but failing to get regular exercise will lead to weakening of key structures that help to support the spine. When these muscles can’t adequately support your spinal column, you’re at a heightened risk for back pain.

What can we do to fight back against this expected increase? For starters, let’s work on tackling the above risk factors. While there’s nothing we can do to slow down father time, we can certainly attack the other risk factors on this list. We can:

• Strive to eat healthy and maintain an ideal weight as we get older.
• Limit screen time and throw ourselves into active pursuits instead of device-heavy habits.
• Make it a point to have ideal posture throughout the day. This is easier if you get in the habit of performing regular posture checks and making adjustments as needed.
• Getting up off the couch and living an active life to ensure our muscles stay strong in the face of natural aging.
• Treating new or chronic back injuries, as unaddressed problems can linger and serve to slow us down.

We want you to have a healthy spine now and for the next few decades, just know that this won’t happen by accident. Be proactive in your pursuit of spine health, and you can buck the trend when it comes to the future of spine pain.

Contact a Spine Doctor

For more information, or for help with your own back issue, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi and the team at the Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.

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