Lower back pain is very, very common. About 85 percent of the population will
experience disabling lower back pain at least once during their lives. The problem is
so bad that, according to one researcher, at any given time 6.8% of the US adult
populationis suffering from an episode of back pain lasting more than two weeks. The
standard medical approach to back pain varies depending on the severity of the
condition. Muscle relaxers, painkillers, rest and physical therapysuch as traction,
ultrasound, hot packs and cold packs are sometimes used. These approaches are
often found wanting however. Even bed rest has been found ineffective for a serious
form of back pain.