You bend to tie your shoes, and something pulls. The ache shoots across your mid-back, sharp enough to stop your hands halfway. You stand slowly, press your palm into the spot, and chalk it up to age or overuse. Maybe it eases up after a day or two. Maybe it doesn’t. Either way, you don’t get it checked because it doesn’t seem serious enough to warrant major concern.

Back pain is one of the most common health complaints worldwide, affecting millions of people each year. Despite the staggering number of...

Back pain from compression fractures can be debilitating, affecting your ability to perform daily activities and reducing your overall...