More people miss work for back pain than any other ailment except the common cold.
He went on to say that management of back pain must change from a passive one of rest to an active one of restoring function. In recognition of this new agenda for managing back pain, this article will focus on one of the biggest causes of back pain - prolonged sitting. Prolonged sitting along with bending, twisting and lifting are the major mechanical causes of back pain. Many people believe that humankind's recent evolution to the standing posture is the cause of back pain, however this does not explain why it is a 20th century epidemic. As it turns out, the spine is designed to be upright, but what creates muscle tension, joint strain, and disc pressure in the sitting posture.