Almost 2 in 3 people suffer back pain each year. Although the vast majority get better within a few weeks, that still leaves some 3 million who don't. For them, temporary acute pain turns into chronic pain. More working days in the UK are lost to back pain than to any other type of injury or illness.

According to figures, the incidence of back trouble suddenly doubled two decades ago, and doubled again in the decade since. But this apparently huge increase may well be explained by a growing belief that back problems should be curable. When our grandparents perhaps just rested, groaning for a day or so, we now go to the doctor for treatment.