Americans spend more to treat spine woes

New York Times, February 13, 2008

Spending on spine treatments in the United States totaled nearly $86 billion in 2005, a rise of 65 percent from 1997 after adjusting for inflation, according to a report. The data show that the percentage of people with serious spine problems has not declined, and it appears to have increased. The report suggests that the nation is losing its battle against back pain, and that many popular treatments may be ineffective or overused.