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Back quiz

How much do you really know about your back and back pain? Try the following quiz and find out.

1) How many vertebrae does a human back have?

1. 11
2. 26
3. 31
4. 44

2) What is the most common cause of back pain?

1. a slipped disc
2. a trapped nerve
3. an injury to a muscle
4. usually there is no obvious physical cause

3) What percentage of people in the UK suffer from at least one day of low back pain during the course of a year?

1. 5 per cent
2. 10 per cent
3. 36 per cent
4. 49 per cent

4) If you suffer from prolonged back pain, which of the following is most likely to be the most 'back-friendly' mattress for you?

1. a second hand mattress
2. a new, very hard mattress
3. a new, firm mattress
4. a new, medium firm mattress

5) Which of these tips is not a good way of preventing back pain when lifting?

1. avoid lifting heavy loads whenever possible
2. don't twist your back when you lift
3. don't lift in cramped, awkward conditions
4. keep your knees straight and bend from the waist to pick objects up

6) Which of these groups of workers experience the most back pain?

1. office workers
2. manual workers
3. people who work from home
4. it doesn't make any difference

7) What is most sensible advice for recovering from short-term back ache (with no other symptoms)?

1. stay in bed until the pain has gone
2. stay in bed for two or three days
3. get up, but do no activity until the pain has gone
4. get up and try to return to normal activities

8) When is it important to seek medical advice for back pain?

1. when the pain lasts more than a few days or is associated with other symptoms, such as loss of bladder control
2. when the pain is in the neck or shoulders
3. when it feels as though you have pulled a muscle
4. you should always seek medical advice for back pain

9) If you are prone to bouts of back pain, which of the following forms of exercise may not help you look after your back?

1. swimming
2. golf
3. alexander technique
4. tai chi

10) Doctors sometimes talk about 'yellow flags' for back pain. But what is a 'yellow flag'?

1. a sign that your back pain is not serious and will go away in a few days
2. a sign that your back pain is likely to be chronic
3. a sign that your back pain is related to social and psychological factors
4. a sign that your back pain has a serious underlying cause, which needs to be treated immediately