Aussie Seniors Bear Brunt of Chronic Back Pain Crisis

Aussie Seniors Bear Brunt of Chronic Back Pain Crisis highlights the scale of long-term back pain among older Australians, including major mental health impacts, based on survey data released for National Spinal Health Month. The Australian Chiropractors Association (ACA) said new results from the 2026 Australian Spinal Health Survey, conducted by Pureprofile with 1,040 adults in May 2026, show 83.3% of Australians aged 61 and over reported back pain in the past 12 months, and 48.3% of senior sufferers experienced chronic pain lasting three months or more. It reported 87.3% have experienced back pain at some point in their lives. ACA President Dr Billy Chow said only 16.5% of seniors with low back pain reported full resolution. Among those aged 81 and over, chronic pain reached 56.8%. The article also links back pain with reduced mobility and sleep disruption, and notes that 30.3% of seniors reported a moderate-to-extreme mental health impact from pain.