Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

Britons prefer looking good to pain relief

Back Care Awareness Week
16th – 21st October 2006

Britons prefer looking good to pain relief

“People are spending more time and money on looking good than looking after their long term health and this does not bode well for the health of the nation.” says Nigel Graham, President of the British Osteopathic Association (BOA) to mark the launch of National Back Care Week (16 – 21 October 2006). Most people would rather spend their money on salon treatments or luxury toiletry products than on tackling a back or joint problem, according to the results of a BOA survey.

A pressure to look good, fueled in part by TV makeover shows and the wider availability of cosmetic treatments, dominates British lives, with many people choosing to spend more on their appearance than on treating chronic health problems such as back or joint pain, repetitive strain injury, or sports injuries.

Astonishingly, 31% of respondents said they would act more quickly to put right a bad haircut or a broken nail, compared to only 10% who saw a muscular or joint problem as a priority.

Most people responding to the survey (67%) spent up to £40 a month on toiletries compared to just 4.7% on complementary medicines, despite around 61% of the UK population experiencing back pain at some time in their lives.

The results come at a time when a consultant osteopath has been chosen for the 1st time to treat the England football team for trauma management and preventative care of sports injuries, alongside the usual team of doctors, physiotherapists and masseurs.

Graham continued, “Osteopaths seek to treat the cause rather than the symptom of pain. If someone is suffering from headaches it might be caused by neck or back pain. Taking painkillers will just prolong the problem. It doesn’t take long for a quick consultation with an osteopath for them to determine what can be causing the pain and decide on the right course of action.”

“People these days need to know what their choices are and where the best pain relief can be found. They should be advised on alternative forms of health care by their GPs - such as osteopathy - if they seem useful”, Graham added.

An estimated three in 10 local health authorities in Britain currently offer alternative therapies to patients, and the NHS runs and funds an outpatient clinic and five hospitals that provide homeopathic treatments, including the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital. Doctors at the hospital are all trained in orthodox medicine as well as complementary disciplines.

If you suffer from back pain, you're not alone. Back pain affects 28.3 million Britons, according to another recent survey. Current statistics from the Department of Health indicate that back pain is costing British industry £5 billion a year in lost production through absenteeism - and the National Health Service £481 million a year in treating it.

Celebrity back pain sufferers include former international rugby star Gavin Hastings OBE, who suffered from bouts of back pain throughout his playing career, Seve Ballesteros, Sean Connery, Toyah Wilcox, Lesley Garrett and Lorraine Kelly.

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Editor’s Notes:

The researchers interviewed a sample of 2,452 people over the Internet between 15 May and 6 June this year.

Back Care Awareness Week 16 – 21 October 2006

Back Care Awareness Week is an annual national health awareness campaign aiming to highlight the importance of good back care.
Two out of five adults will experience back pain sometime in the next 12 months, and it costs the UK £6 billion each year in benefits, treatments and lost production. In the past, the prescribed treatment was bed and lots of rest. These days it's recommended that sufferers keep as active as possible - without overdoing things.

About the British Osteopathic Association

The British Osteopathic Association is the largest professional association for osteopaths in the UK, acting as an independent representative body whilst promoting the highest standards of osteopathic education and research. Established in 1946 the BOA is committed to supporting, protecting and caring for its members and promoting opportunities for individual and professional development in osteopathic practice.

For more info and to search for an osteopath, visit the website: www.osteopathy.org

For further info and the full survey results, contact:

Rebecca Jones
VP Communications
Tel: + (0) 44 208 964 0260
Email: rebecca@vp-pr.com