Most treatments for back pain do not work, and even a small number of people who provide little relief have found a global review of evidence on one of the world’s most common health problems.
Six in 10 adults in the UK live with back pain at some point. Symptoms include unbearable pain, limited movement, inability to work, and reluctance to socially mix. Some people feel better within weeks, but others can find a life dominated by chronic pain for years.
The wide range of treatments available include painkillers, acupuncture, stretching, massage, anti-inflammatory drugs, laser and phototherapy, and spinal manipulation.
But the bad news for many people who endure back pain is that only 10% of these non-surgical treatments that are actually unfolding are actually effective, while the rest brings little or no benefits.
Of the 56 treatments analyzed, only six are effective, and even they produce only “small” relief. The other 50 treatments do not work and can be aggravated as well as reducing pain sparingly.
This is the conclusion of the most comprehensive review of global evidence surrounding non-surgical treatment with pain-inducing back pain.
Australian researchers, led by Dr. Aidan Cashin at Neuroscience Research’s Pain Impact Centre, have looked into 301 randomized controlled trials in which 301 Australians examine 56 treatments or combinations of treatments, including anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxants. The trial took place in four countries around the world, including Europe, North America and Asia.
“Current evidence shows that 10 non-surgical and non-mediated therapies of low back pain are effective and offer only small analgesic effects beyond placebo,” concludes that the findings have been featured in medical journal BMJ Evidence-based medicine.
“The effectiveness of most treatments is uncertain. Our review found no reliable evidence of significant impact on any of the treatments included.”
They found that one treatment that helps people with acute low back pain is nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Additionally, five treatments also provide some relief to chronic low-back pain: exercise, spinal manipulation therapy, tapingantidepressants and transient receptor potential vaniloid 1 (TPRV1) drugs.
However, three treatments for acute lower back pain, including exercise, glucocortisoid injections and taking paracetamol, do not work. Also, two chronic low back pain is not effective – antibiotics and anesthetics.
However, evidence for the other 45 treatments is “inconclusive.” The researchers evaluated the extent to which they alleviated all the pain and offered a judgment. Some of them are very popular, but they said “may provide a modest reduction in pain.”
“There is probably little difference in pain” interventions include exercise, paracetamol, glucocortisoid injections, anesthetics, antibiotics or antibiotics.
However, getting a massage, taking painkillers and wearing foot braces can “provide” a significant reduction in pain.
Heat, acupuncture, spinal manipulation, percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (Dozens) can cause a “moderate” reduction in pain. Using osteopathic treatments, muscle relaxants and NSAIDs together can reduce pain slightly.
However, two treatments that include extracorporeal shock waves and anti-inflammatory drugs can increase someone’s pain Korchicin.
Professor Camila Hawthorne, chairman of the Royal College Object General Practitioner, says family doctors often refer physical therapy patients as first-line treatment, providing exercises to be evaluated and performed, or exercises to link workers who propose non-medical interventions.
“Many patients report feeling some relief from the interventions we propose (health or not), medical or not,” Hawthorne said.
Tim Button, president of the British Chiropractic Association, welcomed support for research into spinal manipulation and taping as effective treatments.
“Our members are increasingly watching patients come to them with back pain. They are worried that they are unable to work and are stuck on the NHS waiting list,” he said.
“This isn’t necessarily the case ‘Miraculous treatment‘ For chronic musculoskeletal conditions, it is as effective as other non-invasive treatments, making a huge difference in how quickly people can return to work and normal life. ”
A chartered spokesman for the Physiotherapy Association said: “Physiotherapists will conduct detailed assessments to identify the underlying causes of lower back pain, which can vary for everyone and can be largely varied in stress, fear of movement, lack of sleep, obesity, work-related tension, and inadequate physical activity.
“Exercise has been shown to be the most useful treatment for lower back pain. Practical treatments have been shown to have slight benefits for lower back pain, but only when used as part of an entire treatment program, including exercise.
“Similarly, injections may be beneficial as part of a treatment program, but not in itself.”
