While everyone experiences occasional moments of temporary discomfort for the sake of personal growth, marketing research firm Packaged Facts estimates that over the past year there were 105 million American adults – equivalent to 42 percent of the age 18+ population – suffering from the type of debilitating pain that impedes rather than improves quality of life. The findings are based on a consumer survey published in the new report Pain Management in the U.S.: Consumer Strategies.
For the average adult, quality of life has obvious significance. While a universal definition of quality of life may prove elusive, it strongly relates to personal health, comfort and happiness, with higher quality of life translating to higher degrees of these qualities.
Pain, when it is not effectively treated and relieved, has a detrimental effect on all aspects of quality of life. This negative impact has been found to span every age and every type and source of pain in which it has been studied, notes Packaged Facts.
“Incidence of pain in the U.S. is widespread, indicating a significant market for any type of pain relieving remedy,” says David Sprinkle, research director, Packaged Facts. “Pain management and understanding the options available is paramount for the millions of pain sufferers in need of remedies that alleviate their symptoms and help restore everyday functioning.”
Here are five top trends in pain management for 2017, according to Packaged Facts:
1. Growth in alternative therapies. While alternative therapies are certainly not new, they are an emerging trend in the U.S. as consumers embrace a natural lifestyle approach to health and wellness. The strong relief ratio achieved by these providers fuels this trend and the popularity of these health care specialists will likely continue to grow. As of 2016, roughly 23 percent of adults trust homeopathic medicine and 22 percent prefer alternative...