Photo/Illutration Employees at Nippon Zoki Pharmaceutical Co. do a stretching exercise to prevent lower back pain in Kyoto on Oct. 10. (Ryosuke Nonaka)

Japan's employers are sharing the pain of their staff with back troubles.

Economic losses to employers caused by back pain's toll on workers have been calculated at 3 trillion yen per year ($27.7 billion).

Researchers at the University of Tokyo and Osaka-based Nippon Zoki Pharmaceutical Co. released the estimate on Oct. 10.

More than 80 percent of people are likely to experience lower back problems in their lifetime. The pain causes employees to work less efficiently and try to stay motionless, which increases the risk of disease.

The research team led by Ko Matsudaira, a project professor at the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Medicine whose specialization is orthopedics, conducted an online survey of 10,000 adult workers nationwide from late September to early October.

The average age of those surveyed was 48.1.

The survey asked workers to name their most miserable health problem, how many days they experience symptoms in a month and other personal details such as their income.

Based on the responses, the team converted the loss of labor productivity into the monetary cost to employers.

Economic losses inflicted by employees' neck problems and stiff shoulders also add up to 3 trillion yen, the researchers said.

According to Matsudaira, bending over at the waist, lifting heavy objects and sitting for long hours at desks all put a burden on the waist and are likely to cause backaches.

When strain accumulates on the waist, workers may wind up with a sprained lower back or a slipped disk.

To prevent lower back pain and other symptoms, researchers recommend getting proper exercise.

It's important for workers to get into the habit of doing exercises that challenge their muscles somewhat, Matsudaira said, adding that taking the stairs at the office provides a good opportunity to do so.

“When you see stairs, say 'Thank you for the opportunity' and start climbing up,” Matsudaira suggested.