Survey Shows Knee and Lower Back Pain Contribute to Insomnia, Weight Gain, Money...

Survey Shows Knee and Lower Back Pain Contribute to Insomnia, Weight Gain,
Money Loss and More
Sufferers of Certain Types of Knee and Lower Back Pains Are Unaware of an
Effective Yet Inexpensive Solution - Dr. Scholl's(R) Pain Relief Orthotics

KENILWORTH, N.J., June 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- What's the biggest
pain in your life? Credit card debt? High gas prices? While these problems
are extremely bothersome, a new survey from the makers of Dr. Scholl's(R)
reveals that the physical pain suffered by people with knee and lower back
pain is also at the top of the list. The survey shows that knee and lower
back pain pervade many aspects of respondents' lives -- and that's only the
beginning of the story. As a result of their pain, more than half of
sufferers (55 percent) said they weren't able to sleep as well, one quarter
said they gained weight (26 percent), and one in five (21 percent) lost money
because they had to take time off from work.(1)
The survey also shows that almost half of adult Americans (47 percent)
experienced knee or lower back pain in the past year.(1) When asked what they
would trade for a pain-free week, 57 percent of aching Americans said they
would forgo eating dessert, 55 percent would miss their favorite television
show and one-third (32 percent) would even sacrifice sex.(1)
Knee and lower back pain are common and costly ailments that can result
from several causes, including injury, being overweight, or simply muscle
stress and strain.(2,3) In 2005, millions of visits were made to physicians'
offices due to knee and back symptoms.(4) There are several treatment options
for knee and lower back pain, but they can be expensive. One study found that
direct costs to treat individuals with back pain alone added up to $26 billion
a year.(5)
"With obesity on the rise and the U.S. population aging, Americans are
more likely to experience knee or lower back pain at some point during their
lives," said Dr. Leslie Campbell, DPM, Presbyterian Hospital, Texas. "While
some patients opt for medical intervention, many can find relief simply by
using specially designed shoe insoles called orthotics. These
over-the-counter products are fairly inexpensive and can be found at various
retail locations, including drugstores. Many people are surprised to learn
that managing certain types of knee and lower back problems can actually begin
with their feet."
In fact, the Dr. Scholl's(R) survey showed that when asked what treatments
they believe would relieve their knee or lower back pain, more than three
quarters (77 percent) of sufferers mentioned that visiting a health care
professional and/or taking prescription or over-the-counter medication (76
percent) could bring them relief, while less than half (41 percent) named
insoles or shoe inserts as a viable pain-relief option to relieve their knee
or lower back pain.(1)
Dr. Scholl's Pain Relief Orthotics provide an effective and inexpensive
solution for certain types of knee and lower back pain. Their design is also
clinically proven to provide all-day comfort. DR. SCHOLL'S KNEE PAIN RELIEF
ORTHOTICS promote better foot and leg alignment and provide relief from knee
pain due to overpronation. DR. SCHOLL'S BACK PAIN RELIEF ORTHOTICS cushion
and absorb jarring impacts, using a design that is clinically proven to
relieve lower back pain that can result from being on your feet all day. The
makers of Dr. Scholl's Pain Relief Orthotics worked closely with health care
professionals to develop and test the only full line of over-the-counter
orthotics specially designed to relieve knee, lower back, heel or arch pain.
"Using over-the-counter orthotics is a first line of defense that many
people are unaware of," added Dr. Campbell. "Sufferers who experience knee or
lower back discomfort and the many difficulties their pain may cause should
first look into this effective solution."
About Dr. Scholl's(R)
Dr. Scholl's(R) products are available at food, drug and mass retailers
nationwide. For more information, please visit drscholls.com.
Dr. Scholl's(R) is America's number one brand of footcare products. For
over a century, the Dr. Scholl's(R) line has provided footcare and comfort to
millions. Today, the Dr. Scholl's(R) brand offers over 120 footcare products
to help keep feet healthy, comfortable and beautiful. The Dr. Scholl's(R)
brand leads the way by utilizing the latest podiatric medicine and research to
revolutionize the way Americans think of, and care for, their feet.
Dr. Scholl's is a registered trademark of Schering-Plough HealthCare
Products, Inc.
About Schering-Plough
Schering-Plough is an innovation-driven, science-centered global health
care company. Through its own biopharmaceutical research and collaborations
with partners, Schering-Plough creates therapies that help save and improve
lives around the world. The company applies its research-and-development
platform to human prescription and consumer products as well as to animal
health products. In November 2007, Schering-Plough acquired Organon
BioSciences, with its Organon human health and Intervet animal health
businesses, marking a pivotal step in the company's ongoing transformation.
Schering-Plough's vision is to "Earn Trust, Every Day" with the doctors,
patients, customers and other stakeholders served by its colleagues around the
world. The company is based in Kenilworth, N.J., and its Web site is
schering-plough.com.
(1) All statistics taken from the Dr. Scholl's Orthotics Omnibus Survey.
Conducted by StrategyOne. January 2008, except where noted.
(2) Pace B. JAMA Patient Page: Coping with Back Pain. JAMA. 2000;284(21).
(3) Zeller JL. JAMA Patient Page: Knee Pain. JAMA. 2007;297(15).
(4) National Center for Health Statistics, National Ambulatory Medical
Care Survey. 2005. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/ad/ad387.pdf
(5) Back Pain: A Costly Ache. The Pennsylvania Health Care Cost
Containment Council. April 2004. Available at
http://www.phc4.org/reports/fyi/docs/phc4fyi24.pdf. Accessed March 6, 2008.
SOURCE Dr. Scholl's

Media, Jennifer Samolewicz, +1-908-298-7359, or Investor Relations, Janet
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