Doctors in Korea are warning that if your back hurts, you need to see a doctor right away.
The vast majority of people with spine problems are older, but the problem is many of them tend to just live with the pain rather than get treated.
This can make things worse.
Cho Sung-min has this report.
Spinal cord disorders, such as herniated disc and spinal stenosis are some of the most common physical problems that appear once people reach middle age.
The disorders can cause pain in various parts of the body,... including the lower back, the legs and even the feet.
Data collected last year, show that in Korea more than 8-point-6 million people were diagnosed with spinal disorders.
More than seventy five percent of them were people aged 50 or older.
Over the past several years, the number of spinal patients has gradually increased.
Last year, there were hundreds of thousands more diagnoses than in 2013.
This apparent change could be explained by the tendency of some patients to just live with their pain.
Doctors say that more elderly patients are neglecting the early signs and symptoms... and come in late for check ups when the condition has already gotten worse.
"In addition to the lower back, pain can also show up in the thighs, knees, and ankles. It doesn't go away easily, so those with symptoms need to visit us as soon as possible."
Apart from frequent check-ups, to keep your spine healthy, experts suggest maintaining a good posture by straightening up the back, and exercising on a daily basis.
Cho Sung-min, arirang news.
