Survey of 200 People: Are Many Suffering from Stiff Shoulders, Back Pain, and Headaches? Investigating Priorities When Choosing an Osteopathic Clinic (Survey by Natural Seikotsuin)

Stiff shoulders, back pain, headaches, and neck pain are often overlooked as 'common ailments' in daily life. Even if it starts as a minor concern, persistent pain or discomfort can affect work, household chores, sleep, and outings.

On the other hand, because these physical ailments are so familiar, they are issues easily postponed with thoughts like 'I can endure this much' or 'I don't know where to consult'.

Therefore, Natural Seikotsuin (https://natural-seikotsuin.jp/), which holds the No. 1 spot for customer reviews in Miyakonojo City, conducted a survey of 200 men and women aged 30 to 69. The survey investigated how often they experience ailments like stiff shoulders, back pain, headaches, and neck pain, what specific symptoms they struggle with, and what they prioritize when choosing an osteopathic clinic, bonesetter's clinic, or chiropractic clinic.

We hope this survey will serve as an opportunity for those suffering from daily physical ailments to reconsider their condition and assist them in choosing a place where they can consult without hesitation.

Table of Contents

- Survey 1: Frequency of feeling physical ailments such as stiff shoulders, back pain, and headaches within the past 3 months
- Survey 2: Specifically concerning physical ailments such as stiff shoulders, back pain, and headaches within the past 3 months
- Survey 3: Important factors when choosing an osteopathic clinic, bonesetter's clinic, or chiropractic clinic
- Conclusion: Ailments like stiff shoulders, back pain, and headaches are easily overlooked in daily life

Q1. In the past 3 months, have you experienced any physical ailments such as stiff shoulders, neck pain, headaches, back pain, upper back pain, or numbness?

The most common response was 'Feeling it almost every day' at 32.5% (65 people). This means about 1 in 3 people experience stiff shoulders, neck pain, headaches, back pain, upper back pain, or numbness daily. It appears that physical ailments are not just occasional, temporary occurrences, but that pain and discomfort have become daily struggles for many.

The second most common was 'Not feeling it at all' at 19.5% (39 people). However, the results also show that nearly 80% feel some frequency of discomfort, making physical discomfort and pain a relatively common issue for men and women aged 30 to 69.

A significant number of people, 16.5% (33 people), answered 'Feeling it several times a week'. Even if not daily, feeling unwell multiple times a week will likely affect the quality of life. For instance, pain and discomfort can become a daily burden, making it hard to concentrate on work, making chores or outings feel burdensome, or making it difficult to relieve fatigue even after sleeping.

There were also responses of 'Feeling it a few times a month' at 15.5% (31 people) and 'Felt it 1-2 times in the past 3 months' at 13.0% (26 people). Although the frequency is not high, they are not completely free from physical discomfort, and it is thought that some feel symptoms at specific times, such as when fatigue accumulates or when maintaining the same posture for a long time.

Q2. In the past 3 months, what physical ailments were particularly concerning? (Multiple answers allowed: Note 1) *Targeted at those who answered they feel discomfort in Q1

Note 1: This question allows multiple choices, but the options are limited to up to three. This is to more clearly understand the physical ailments that were particularly concerning.

The most common was 'Neck stiffness / Neck pain' at 41.9% (65 people). Following closely was 'Stiff shoulders' at 40.0% (62 people), indicating that many people are concerned about discomfort around their neck and shoulders. Stiffness in the neck and shoulders is one of the ailments easily felt after spending a long time in the same posture or looking at a PC or smartphone for extended periods. It can be said that these are areas where discomfort is easily felt in daily life and can easily become chronic problems.

Regarding discomfort around the lower back, 'Chronic back pain / Heaviness in the lower back' stood out at 24.5% (38 people). Rather than sudden pain, it is thought that a certain number of people suffer from discomfort such as heaviness, dull pain, or pain when sitting for long periods. On the other hand, 'Sudden severe back pain, like a strained back' was relatively low at 5.8% (9 people). Even with lower back issues, there is a tendency to have more chronic symptoms that gradually bother people in daily life than cases with sudden severe pain.

Also, 'Headaches' at 18.7% (29 people) and 'Shoulder pain / Difficulty raising arms' at 16.8% (26 people) accounted for a certain percentage. Since some feel headaches in conjunction with neck and shoulder stiffness, it may not be a standalone ailment but something concerning in relation to physical stiffness and fatigue. Shoulder pain and difficulty raising arms are also likely to affect daily movements, causing inconvenience when changing clothes or carrying bags.

Regarding discomfort related to the lower body and posture, 'Joint pain in the lower body such as knees and hips' was 12.9% (20 people), 'Upper back pain / Heaviness' was 11.6% (18 people), and 'Hunchback / Poor posture' was 10.3%.