Low back pain is the second most common neurological ailment in the U.S., racking up over $90 bil in annual health care expenses
 
While many are convinced that various and sundry of life's annoyances are a pain in the neck, millions of Americans find that life quite literally is a pain in the back - the low back!

According to the National Center for Health Statistics Report: Health, United States, 2006, Special Feature on Pain, of four common types of pain experienced by survey respondents, low back pain was the most common. In fact, over 26 million Americans aged 20-64 report having frequent back pain.

Not only is it prevalent, but it is expensive. Researchers in a 2004 study at Duke Medical Center found that patients with back pain racked up over $90 bil annually in health care expenses, with roughly $26 bil of that directly attributed to treating the back pain. 

What causes it?

There are a range of factors contributing to low back pain, including muscle strain; overexertion; organ dysfunction; stress; obesity; smoking; misaligned bone(s); poor posture; improper lifting; poor sleeping position. Specifically identifying the source of the pain, though, can be challenging, and medical experts often disagree on the most effective approach to treat the problem.

Massage to the rescue!

While most occurrences of low back pain go away in a few days, others can persist for much longer and if left untreated, can develop into more serious conditions. Traditional treatments for low back pain include pain medications, cortisone injections and surgery. While frequently necessary, they generally treat only the symptoms and not the cause of the pain.

While people suffering from any acute pain and persistent, chronic pain problems are advised to consult with their physician, research is proving that massage therapy not only alleviates persistent back pain, but may reduce the costs of care.

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The low back is roughly six inches long, and consists of the five lumbar vertebrae (L1, L2, L3, L4, L5) which begin at the lower end of the rib cage. Between each vertebra is a cushion called an intervertebral disk. The 5^th lumbar vertebra joins at the top of the triangle-shaped bone called the sacrum; functionally, the lumbar vertebrae and the sacrum work together.