Chief medical officer for Wales Dr Tony Jewell has announced a new drive to tackle Wales' most common chronic disease.

NHS physiotherapists will be providing early intervention for musculoskeletal disorders, including lower back pain, in a new drive to reduce the number of working days lost.

The pilot project, to commence in January 2008, will evaluate the effect of physiotherapy on sickness absence and working time lost due to musculoskeletal conditions such as back pain.

A recent survey by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy found that 41 per cent of people had experienced back pain in the last two years.

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