The North American Spine Society launched the North American Spine Foundation, a non-profit organization established to end spine-related disability.
The organization will seek to achieve its goals through research, education and advocacy. "Spine-related disability impacts us all, outpacing diabetes, lung cancer, tuberculosis, preterm birth and malaria as the leading cause of suffering worldwide," said Michael L. Reed, DPT, OCS, executive director of the North American Spine Foundation. "The North American Spine Foundation is uniquely positioned to lead the charge to reduce the medical, social, emotional and financial devastation of spine-related disability."
Here are five key statistics on the burden of spinal disability:
1. Around 30 percent of employees will develop a disability in their lifetime, making them 71 percent more likely to reach the poverty level due to unemployment and financial loss.
2. Employers in the United States incur annual productivity losses for spine-related disability equaling $28 billion. Around $357 billion of public funds in the United States is spent annually supporting the disabled, and spinal disorders are recognized as a major contributor to the cost.
3. A 20-year-old has 30 percent risk of becoming disabled before the age of 65 years old. Spine-related disorders are a major cause.
4. When someone becomes disabled, they are 71 percent more likely to eventually reach the poverty level compared to their peers. Personal finances immediately begin to dwindle notwithstanding subsidies and public assistance.
5. Disability leads to a 23 percent decline in annual earnings and 11 percent reduction in after-tax income for all after-tax income.
The foundation anticipates offering $90,000 in spine reserach grants during the first year and plans to host a Spine Foundation Reserach Summit for reserachers and other key stakeholders. In the second year, the organization hopes to reach $300,000 in research grants and fund a pilot cohort treatment study with emplloyer cooperation.
The orgnaization also plans to expand the summit in its second year to include 150 top international spine reserachers and other key stakeholders. Eventually, the organization plans to fund millions of dollars in spine reserach, offer educational programming and see the results of funded projects published in peer-reviewed journals and present at major clinical meetings.