About the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) project

The WHO in collaboration with several research organizations including Harvard and John Hopkins have published a series of studies showing that musculoskeletal disorders are the number-one cause of disability worldwide with low back disorders #1 and neck disorders #4.
These studies provide indisputable evidence that musculoskeletal conditions are an enormous problem in all parts of the world and need to be given the same priority for policy and resources as other major conditions like cancer, mental health and cardiovascular disease.

 https://www.who.int/healthinfo/global_burden_disease/about/en/?fbclid=IwAR2qIAYqGVNtJL2D3A_bRHGJgHYCYm85SsvvwC33l1jFMYAt8bu9So5JBkI

Back pain one of leading causes of disability

It is easy for some who have never had a severe or chronic back disorder to think it is not a serious problem, maybe because back disorders do not kill anyone...well at least not directly. The reality is that low back and neck disorders are the 2nd most common cause of disability in the developed countries after ischemic heart disease, according to the Global Burden of Disease Study published in the Lancet.
Does this surprise anyone?How Back Pain Took Over the WorldB

High rate of disabililty after senior patients leave the hospital

We now have overwhelming evidence of the benefits of activity and I spend much time encouraging more activiity for my patients. This Kaiser Health News article references a study showing that one-third of patients age 70 and older leave the hospital more disabled than when they arrived because many times they are restricted from getting out of bed.
Can you imagine how much disability this creates?
‘Fear Of Falling’: How Hospitals Do Even More Harm By Keeping Patients In Bed

New report warns of widespread ineffectiveness of lower back pain treatments

Good Morning America recently ran a segment concerning the 3 papers just published in the Lancet medical journal. These papers state that much of the treatment of low back pain is not based on current research and is ineffective. The papers analyzed the evidence and recommends as a first line activity, superficial heat, spinal manipulation (94% of which is performed by chiropractors), massage, and acupuncture. 
Does this sound like good recommendations to you?

New report warns of widespread ineffectiveness of lower back pain treatments