The epidemiology of back pain in vocational age groups.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the prevalence of back pain in a general population aged between 20 and 59 years.

POPULATION

A representative sample of 2000 individuals from Ostergotland County, Sweden (population 400,000).

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional study using a questionnaire including the pain drawing.

RESULTS

The observed point prevalence was 28% (95% confidence interval 26-31%). The adjusted prevalence taking into account the non-responders was 23% (21-25%). Lumbar pain with radiation was reported by 40%, while 4% had only cervical pain with radiation. Twelve per cent were on sick-leave due to back pain. Activity of daily life was affected mainly in the group of men aged 40-59 and only in household tasks. The back problems did not affect social activity.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of back problems in the vocational ages was found to be 23%. Only small parts of a pain population are on sick-leave or have changed working tasks because of back problems. The distribution of pain in most cases is combined with radiation to extremities and not isolated to a single region. The combination of different localisations shows the pain problem to be more than just a "low back" problem.