Most individuals suffer from lower back pain at some point in their lives and approximately 2% to 10% of these individuals go on to experience chronicity of their pain. The incidence of lower back pain increases with age, and it is conceivable that one can live with back pain for decades. These individuals more often experience depression and a decrease in quality of life. In this column, we focus on measures that can be taken to prevent lower back pain. Management options, both pharmacological and nonpharmacological, are also explored.
