Costs to Businesses

Employees are a vital component of any business. When an employee suffers from back pain, the whole company suffers. It is important to educate employees about proper back care. It can improve their health and save the company money. Consider the following facts that illustrate how expensive back pain can be to a business:

American Chiropractic Association states:

• Back pain accounts for over $50 billion annually in easily
  identifiable costs.

• The median work time lost for employees with back injuries who
  used chiropractic care was only 9 days as compared with 34.5
  days for workers who used medical care, according to an
  Oregon study.

• At any given time, 31 million people suffer from lower back pain.

• Each year, one-half of all working Americans admit to
  experiencing back pain symptoms.

• Within the past five years, one-third of all Americans over age 18
  had a back problem severe enough for them to seek professional   help.

• As much as 80 percent of Americans will experience a back
  problem at some point in their lives. Depending on the degree
  of severity, back pain may debilitate them, cause time off from   productive work, take important time away from their family, and
  interfere with their quality of life.

A study conducted by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons indicated:

• Those suffering from lower back pain represent the majority
  of people who are chronically disabled.

• Lower back pain is the second most common medical reason
  for absenteeism and loss of productivity.

Back pain can be disabling and costly.

• Worker’s Compensation boards have reported that 30 percent
  of the claims received are for back injuries and pain. This accounts   for 50 to 60 percent of total costs because the pain often becomes  chronic.

• Back pain is the most common cause of work loss and disability.

• People between the ages of 30 and 50 experience the most
  problems.

The Center for Disease Control reports that:

• Among the 9 million working women who experienced back pain,   almost one-third attributed their back pain to work-related activities
  or injuries.

• One out of five injury visits to the emergency room had a non-injury   principal diagnosis such as back pain.


Companies need to recognize the importance of proactive wellness programs. Recent studies have indicated that 7 out of 10 Americans get little or no regular exercise. As a result, as much as 60 percent of Americans are considered overweight or obese. Do not let your employees become one these statistics. Provide the resources to promote wellness. Educate your staff on proper office ergonomics, lifting strategies, and stretches. A healthy back can save you and your staff time and money.

Dr. Dunn is a strong proponent for proactive wellness. To learn more about what businesses can do to promote a healthy workplace, call the Center at (904) 249-1551.