They put the cost of work absenteeism at 12 billion annually. In light of this evidence, surely more should be done to address this extraordinary situation. The pain and expense of back problems are fundamentally unnecessary. Although there are no magic solutions, the answers to solve much of this dilemma are available. Back problems can be prevented most of the time.
Effective education is the key.
Understanding the problems, how to prevent them and what to do if they occur are the answers. It involves self-responsibility and a desire to have a healthy back. This is the successful philosophy of Duane Saunders, a leading Physical Therapist from America whose ideas and back care programmes are widely utilised all around the world today. Perhaps the most frustrating obstacle now is the difficult task of communicating this information to everyone who needs to know it, from health care professionals to business and industry leaders and most importantly to patients and workers. Today, most patients visiting Duane Saunders' clinics soon realise that physical therapy is not just about the application of localised treatments and exercise, but the application of a comprehensive, systematic approach to the patient's problem.