Estimating the incidence of low back pain is difficult as the incidence of first-ever episodes of
low back pain is already high by early adulthood and symptoms tend to recur over time. The
lifetime prevalence of non-specific (common) low back pain is estimated at 60–70% in
industrialized countries (one-year prevalence 15–45%, adult incidence 5% per year). The
prevalence rate for children and adolescents approaches that seen in adults.
14
,
15 It then
increases and peaks between ages 35 and 55.16,