And while the workplace may be most hazardous to your back, injuries in the home add significantly to the toll.
Back injuries are among the most debilitating, and they are frustratingly difficult to treat.
It's another case where prevention is the best policy. Conventional wisdom about protecting your back centers on how you lift heavy objects. The Ohio State researchers found that repetitive lifting can risk back injury, even if the objects aren't especially heavy. Dr. William Marras says that most back injuries are probably a result of cumulative wear and tear, rather than a sudden injury. And some of the motions that bring on that wear don't involve bending forward or even lifting.