In a three-month period, about one-quarter of U.S. adults experience at least one day of back pain, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. That translates into a lot of employees.
“Musculoskeletal conditions represent 16% of all medical costs,” says Michael W. Rosen, M.D., senior national medical director, clinical content, with OptumHealth Care Solutions. “Total costs for low back pain are estimated to be between $100 million and $200 million each year – two-thirds of which are due to decreased wages and productivity.”
