Linking this human interest with common conditions and problems can increase the target audience and appeal of your story. These features are often less time sensitive and also lend themselves to publication in either health care or general interest media. Back Pain Back pain affects one in four Americans and is the most common form of physical disability. An estimated 80 percent of all Americans will suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. Problems can range from minor aggravating aches to severe debilitating pain.
Back pain is the second leading cause of work absenteeism.
Physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians take a comprehensive approach to examining all aspects of back problems. Studies have shown that early aggressive treatment of back injuries by a physiatrist results in quicker recovery and fewer lost work days. They also help design exercise, strength and conditioning programs that can help prevent injuries and improve performance. At the professional level, sports injuries can have a unique financial impact. Spinal Cord Injury Spinal cord injuries impair about 8,000 Americans each year, and the catastrophic nature of these injuries causes complex physical and psychological effects.