Aches and pains are no longer the preserve of old age. The survey revealed that one in five young women are experiencing back, joint or muscular pain on a daily basis and two out of five women report onset of problems in their twenties.
The survey also explores differences between apples, pears and hour-glasses and confirms our bodies can shape our pain problems. Being curvy is not always comfortable. Women who describe themselves as 'top heavy' are the most likely to blame their body-shape for discomfort, with 23% complaining that their physique can be a source of pain.
Back pain is the most common cause for concern and affects 10% of women, while 6% cited the shoulders as the most troublesome pain point and the same number confirmed they get it in the neck.
The Deep Relief research also uncovered a curious disconnect surrounding the impact of weight.
More than half (53%) of those questioned admitted they need to lose weight and a quarter (25%) described themselves as being overweight, which is a recognised risk factor for joint and back pain. Yet only one in six (17%) acknowledged that their weight was contributing to aches and pains.
In reality, weight-related pain is probably far more widespread that we admit. Although 25% of women confirmed they were overweight, slightly more (27%) had a body mass index which was too high and almost a third (31%) were in complete denial and had no idea of their BMI.
Media medic, Sarah Brewer says "Body-shape, and in particular body-weight, is a common driver for joint pain and studies have shown a clear dose-response relationship between BMI and pain, which is just a fancy way of saying the more you weigh, the greater the risk and severity of pain."
"If a patient is overweight and complains of joint pain, the first thing any health professional will advise is that they try to lose some of that excess weight."
The Deep Relief survey revealed that women are most likely to carry extra kilos on their tums and bottoms, with two out of three (63%) saying their stomach is the first place extra weight accumulates, followed by thighs (28%) and hips (22%).
And it found that two out of three women weigh more than they did at 18. Just over a third (36%) said they were a 'bit heavier' and a quarter (26%) said they were a lot heavier.
Gail Morgan, lifestyle and fashion guru adds "This trend is mirrored in retail clothing sales, which have seen a 45% surge in demand for size 18 and above over five years. And it is likely to be an important factor fuelling the earlier onset of aches and pains."
"Age also shapes our experience of pain. Women in their 20's are the most at risk of becoming fashion victims. According to the Deep Relief poll, they are almost three times more likely to harm themselves with heavy handbags, 28% compared to 10% of women in their fifties, 16% identified uncomfortable shoes as the cause of their problems compared to 8% of the 30 to 40-year-olds and a mere 1% of the women in their fifties who were quizzed."
The Deep Relief data noted further that a staggering nine out of ten women (90%) in their 20's have suffered for style and reported pain problems caused by wearing heels and seven out of ten (70%) admit they have been so uncomfortable they have gone home barefoot after an evening out.
Curiously, women in their 30's are the most likely to put pain down to cold weather, 17% compared to only 5% of the 51 to 60-year-olds who were questioned. They are also the most likely to report pain problems caused by a health condition other than arthritis, 14%, compared to just 8% of those in their 20's and 40's and 10% of women in their 50s'.
Weight was one of the most common triggers for women in their 40's, 23% admitted their problems were caused by excess weight compared to 13% of those in their twenties and 18% of women in their fifties.
As you would expect, women in their 50's are most likely to attribute their pain to arthritis, with one in five (19%) reporting it was a problem, this may also explain why they are also the most likely to reach for oral painkillers, 60% compared to 46% of those in their twenties. However this group most likely to report back, joint or muscular aches and pains triggered by specific activities such as gardening, housework or exercise.
Worryingly, the Deep Relief poll found that more than half the women questioned (52%) found pain sometimes made it difficult to exercise or participate in sports and the younger age group was the most likely to resort to rest when pain hit, 31% compared to 18% of women in their forties.
Sarah Brewer says "In the short term rest is the right thing to do for something like a muscle sprain or strain, but for joint or back pain it is much better to keep moving as much as possible. This highlights the need to be savvy about pain management and use a product like Deep Relief Pain Relief gel to control pain and maintain mobility."
Top Reasons To Reach For Deep Relief Gel
Deep Relief Pain Relief Gel is a unique, clinically proven topical analgesic gel which attacks pain on two fronts:
Levomenthol provides a counter-irritant effect which delivers penetrating cooling pain relief, while the pain killing action of Ibuprofen works by damping down inflammation and swelling.
Deep Relief Pain Relief Gel is the only anti-inflammatory pain relief gel in the UK with two pain-killing ingredients - Ibuprofen and Levomenthol plus anti-inflammatory action.
An in-vitro study suggests that the synergistic effect of these two key ingredients enhances the penetration of ibuprofen through the skin compared to ibuprofen alone. It found that Deep Relief Pain Relief Gel delivered more ibuprofen and faster over a 10 hour period than products containing ibuprofen alone.
So if you suffer from mild to moderate muscular pain, back pain, rheumatic pain, sprains and strains or inflammation you could opt for a topical pain relieving gel like Deep Relief Pain Relief Gel. However, if the pain becomes severe or worsens, always seek GP advice immediately.
People as young as twenty are experiencing joint pain