Neck and back pain are common problems in industrialized countries. Among chronic conditions, neck and back problems are the most frequent cause of limitation of activity. The purpose of this study is to determine the aggravating factors of neck and back pain and to demonstrate the effect of comprehensive rehabilitation approach through back school program. We studied 2510 patients with low back or neck pain who were admitted to the department of rehabilitation medicine of Yong Dong Severance Hospital from 1987 to 1994.

The major results were as follows:

1) Chronic patients were 81.1%.

2) Of the aggravating factors, sports injury, longtime driving and shortterm weight gain increased annually. In posterior neck pain patients, aggravation by typing and computer work was remarkable.

3) Teenage and overweight patients were increased annually.

4) Patients attending back school program had much improvement of pain compared with the others.

These results of this pilot study are being applied to a back school program.