Oh My Aching Back

It's a common refrain and for good reason. Millions of Americans have back pain, according to the National Center for Health Statistics—not just 1 or 2 million but tens of millions. More than 80 million, in fact.

In 2019, The NCHS asked a representative sample of Americans aged 18 or older this question: "Over the past 3 months, how much have you been bothered by back pain? Would you say not at all, a little, a lot, or somewhere in between?" A substantial 39 percent reported having had a little to a lot of back pain. 

Percent with back pain in past 3 months

Aged 18 to 29: 28%

Aged 30 to 44: 35%

Aged 45 to 64: 44%

Aged 65-plus: 46%

And that's not all. Almost as many adults (36.5 percent) reported having pain in their hips, knees, or feet in the past three months, including 50 percent of people aged 65 or older. Thirty-one percent reported having pain in their hands, arms, or shoulders. 

Overall, the 59 percent majority of Americans aged 18 or older reported being in pain in the past three months. 

Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Back, Lower Limb, and Upper Limb Pain among U.S. Adults, 2019