Vim & Vigor - Winter 2012 - University of Virginia - (Page 38)
We’ve Got Your
ith 24 vertebrae and 23 disks, plus nerves, the spinal column and muscles—all working together—it’s no wonder that back pain is so common. “Back pain is probably the most common condition after the common cold that brings patients in to see their family doctor,” says Raj Rao, M.D., a spokesman for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. In fact, it’s estimated that half of all working Americans experience back pain symptoms every year. Those symptoms can be minor twinges or extreme pain that keeps you from simple tasks. >
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY CORBIS IMAGES
BY COLLEEN RINGER
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Vim & Vigor · W I N TER 2 012
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Winter 2012 - University of Virginia