One out of every five individuals experiences back discomfort: Remedies for such discomfort - Over a fifth of individuals experience back pain: Remedies to consider
In Lower Saxony, Germany, back pain remains a prevalent health concern, with one in five residents visiting a doctor for it at least once a year, according to a data analysis by major health insurer Barmer for the year 2023. The analysis reveals that 22% of the population is affected, with women slightly more often than men.
Although the number of people with back pain has decreased slightly from 25% in 2010, Barmer does not attribute this change to a decrease in the number of patients but rather to a shift in understanding of pain in medical practice.
Barmer, which has approximately 800,000 insured members in Lower Saxony, offers various recommendations to maintain a healthy back. These include regular physical activity and strengthening exercises focusing on the back and core muscles, maintaining good posture during sitting, standing, and lifting, ergonomic adjustments in the workplace or home office, weight management, and avoiding prolonged periods of inactivity or sitting without breaks.
Simplified measures suggested by Barmer include taking the stairs instead of the elevator and regularly changing sitting position to relieve muscles and joints. Moreover, investing in ergonomic furniture such as a good office chair or an adjustable-height desk can help preserve back health.
Back pain is now considered a chronic pain disease in medical practice, and its causes in Lower Saxony are not explicitly stated in the available search results. However, common factors contributing to back pain nationwide include physical strain, lifestyle factors such as sedentary behavior or poor ergonomics, mental and physical stress, and conditions associated with chronic disease. The transition to more work-from-home arrangements, which have increased since the COVID-19 pandemic, might also influence the rise in back pain through less optimal work setups and reduced physical activity.
Barmer promotes preventive measures and education on musculoskeletal health to reduce back pain and improve quality of life, consistent with health insurer strategies in Germany. For specific and detailed guidelines, consulting Barmer’s published health information or their official website would provide targeted recommendations.
- In line with their commitment to promoting health and wellness, Barmer's community policy emphasizes the importance of vocational training in fitness and exercise, specifically training focused on maintaining a healthy back and core muscles.
- Recognizing the influence of mental health on physical conditions, Barmer acknowledges the need for addressing mental health aspects as part of their vocational training programs, aiming to reduce the prevalence of chronic diseases like back pain.
- To combat chronic diseases like back pain, Barmer's vocational training programs also emphasize the significance of science, offering education on the latest research in health, medical-conditions, and fitness-and-exercise, empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their well-being.
