Back pain is a leading cause of disability worldwide, affecting over 619 million people globally.
This number is expected to increase to 840 million within the next three decades, with the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating the issue due to restricted access to appropriate care.
Eric Hurwitz, a professor and director at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, who has been studying back pain for 30 years, says the extent of the problem is not widely acknowledged.
New Study: The Connection Between Back Pain and Depression
Alongside known risk factors such as smoking, obesity, and occupational ergonomic factors, Hurwitz’s recent study has discovered an association between back pain and depression.
The study found that people with back pain were more likely to report symptoms of depression at a later date, and those suffering from depression were more likely to subsequently experience back pain.
The study involved a survey of over 2,000 U.S. adults over nine years.
Other Associated Conditions: Cardiovascular Issues, Hypertension, Diabetes, and Cognitive Impairment
Further research involving Hurwitz discovered that cardiovascular conditions, hypertension, diabetes, and poor mental health were all linked to a higher likelihood of spinal pain.
Additionally, a correlation was found between spinal pain and cognitive impairment.
Understanding why these associations exist, whether they have common causes, and the effectiveness of potential interventions are the next steps in this research.
The Role of Chiropractic Care and Epidemiology
Hurwitz has conducted numerous studies on the effectiveness of spinal manipulation and other therapies for back pain.
With a background in chiropractic and epidemiology, his research focuses on populations at risk, risk and protective factors, and optimal management strategies for back pain.
How to Prevent Back Pain: Stay Active and Maintain a Healthy Weight
Hurwitz’s advice for dealing with back pain is straightforward: keep moving. Finding enjoyable physical activities can help ensure consistent participation.
Key factors include staying active, maintaining a healthy weight, and keeping the back unstrained, which can benefit both physical and mental well-being.
Activities that improve mobility and range of motion, like yoga, Tai Chi, swimming, and bicycling, can be especially beneficial.
The Role of Public Health: A Multilevel Approach
Public health plays a critical role in addressing back pain, Hurwitz notes. Interventions that motivate individuals in pain (either mental or physical or both) to stay active might have broad benefits.
However, efforts need to be coordinated at various levels — not just individually, but as a community, society, and organization, and even at the legislative level.
Hurwitz points out that societal constraints, such as lack of safe spaces for exercise, unaffordable gym memberships, or work-related time constraints, can hinder health promotion.
Conclusion
The comprehensive research by Hurwitz and his colleagues reveals crucial insights about back pain and its connections with depression, cardiovascular health, hypertension, diabetes, and cognitive function.
Their findings underscore the importance of an integrated, holistic approach to back pain prevention and treatment, taking into account both the physical and mental aspects of health.
As the number of people affected by back pain is expected to increase significantly, it’s crucial that these findings are implemented in public health strategies.
If you care about mental health, please read studies about 6 foods you can eat to improve mental health and B vitamins could help prevent depression and anxiety.
For more information about mental health, please see recent studies about how dairy foods may influence depression risk, and results showing Omega-3 fats may help reduce depression.
The study was published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
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