Musculoskeletal pain is commonly reported among adult populations, with almost one fifth reporting widespread pain, one third shoulder pain, and up to one half reporting low back pain in a 1-month period. It is estimated that 15% to 20% of adults have back pain during a single year and 50% to 80% experience at least one episode of back pain during a lifetime.
Low back pain afflicts all ages, from adolescents to the elderly, and is a major cause of disability in the adult working population. Prevalence generally declined with greater levels of education and increasing income.
The prevalence of degenerative changes in the lumbar spine in cadavers showed that facet joint degenerative changes (arthrosis) was common from L1-S1 levels especially at the L4-L5 level. Facet arthrosis was present in 57% of 20- to 29-year-olds, 82% of 30- to 39-year-olds, 93% of 40- to 49-year-olds, 97% in 50- to 59-year-olds, and 100% in those >60 years old. Men had a greater prevalence and degree of facet arthrosis than women at all lumbar levels. There was no difference in arthrosis between right versus left facet joints. (Eubanks JD. Lee MJ. Cassinelli E. Ahn NU. Prevalence of lumbar facet arthrosis and its relationship to age, sex, and race: an anatomic study of cadaveric specimens. Spine. 32(19):2058-62, 2007.