A new study conducted by Harris Interactive has found that 85% of Americans suffer from pain. The study examined how people deal with their pain and how far they would go to eliminate it. The study was commissioned by Wahl Home Products. The company has developed a massager that has proven effective for managing everyday muscular and joint pain. Its advantage over other units is that, in addition to massage, it adds hot or cold to problem areas. My wife is among the 85% of Americans who suffer from joint pain. She tried the product and found that it provided significant pain relief.
“Pain is a growing issue that affects people of all ages,” noted Jenny McLaughlin, product manager for Wahl. She added, “As a leading manufacturer of pain management tools, we’re committed to helping people better manage their everyday aches and pains. It starts with understanding the issue.” The study group comprised a representative sample of more than 2,000 men and women nationwide; they were asked to share their pain; specifically, where it hurts, how often, how much and how they deal with it. The results suggest that if pain were a disease, it would be an epidemic.
More than eight in 10 Americans have experienced muscle or joint pain over the past 12 months, and 75% have it in three or more places. While the numbers show that the most common pain points are lower back, shoulders/neck and joints, to call them common is an understatement. Not only do nearly 7 in 10 people report pain in these areas, but of those who do, about half experience it at least once a month. The highest %age faces this pain on a daily basis.
The breakdown of where people experience pain:
78% experience back pain
74% experience neck/shoulder pain
68% experience joint pain
65 % experience leg pain
60 % experience foot pain
57 % experience arm pain
Who suffers pain:
Geographically speaking, pain is consistent. The Midwest and South have the highest incidence of pain at 87%; however, the Northeast and West are not far behind: 84 % and 83 %, respectively. In the battle of the sexes, pain is an equal opportunity employer. Women experience it more than men, but by a slim margin, 87 % to 84 %. However, women lead in all pain points with the exception of arms and other pain. Marriage might be bliss, but it can come at a painful price. Those who tie the knot experience about 10 % more pain than single/never married people. And the notion that children can be a pain in the neck does not actually ring true, as those with kids are just as likely to have pain in that area as those without.
Not surprisingly, pain favors those who are older; however, the margin is not as large as might be expected: 9 in 10 people 55-plus experience pain, but so do nearly 8 in 10 people 18-34. Pain levels remain steady between the ages of 18 and 44. And that is when things start to get a little bumpy. Once a person turns 45, their likelihood to report having pain increases about 10%, specifically in the shoulders/neck, lower back and joints. By age 55, the likelihood of not having pain is about 1 in 10.
How people deal with their pain:
When it comes to treating pain, the majority of individuals, 64%, do more than one thing. While 70% of pain sufferers turn to medication, either over-the-counter or prescription, 40% also take matters into their own hands by way of hot/cold treatments or simply taking it easy. One in five pain sufferers also use massage therapy and 17% seek medical attention. Men and women deal with their pain very differently. While most do something to treat their pain, men are almost twice as likely as women to do nothing at all: 13% versus 7%.
What people would to do to eliminate their pain:
If given the opportunity to trade their pain for something unpleasant, more than half of Americans say bring it on. Based on options provided, 84 million Americans would rather pierce their tongue, have a root canal or give a speech in their underwear.
New technology and resources to manage pain:
As a company that focuses on pain management, Wahl offers tools and resources to help those experiencing recurring muscle and joint pain get the relief they need. The company’s line of pain management massagers now includes two new temperature therapy products: the Hot-Cold Massager and Hot-Cold Massaging Gel Pack; both products combine two common pain treatment methods for a more comprehensive approach to managing everyday aches and pains. In addition, Wahl has introduced a new resource, wahlmassagers.com, which provides massage treatment guidance based on a person’s specific pain point or condition.
