Photo credit: www.foxnews.com
Chronic back pain stands as the most prevalent form of pain among adults in the U.S., with approximately 16 million individuals affected. A recent study sheds light on the effectiveness of various treatment options, revealing some troubling insights.
The study, published in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine, indicates that only about 10% of the examined treatments successfully alleviated lower back pain.
Numerous treatments were described as showing minimal efficacy, with many being “barely better than a placebo,” as highlighted by a press release from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney, Australia.
ADDRESSING ‘DEAD BUTT SYNDROME’: PREVENTATIVE MEASURES FOR THOSE WHO SIT FOR EXTENDED PERIODS
“Our review did not uncover substantial evidence supporting the effectiveness of any of the treatments included,” remarked Dr. Aidan Cashin, the study’s lead author and deputy director at Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA), as well as a senior lecturer in Health Sciences at UNSW Sydney.
The research involved a comprehensive review of 301 randomized, controlled trials focusing on 56 non-surgical treatments for adults dealing with either acute or chronic low back pain, or a combination of both, with outcomes compared against placebo controls.
“The treatments analyzed included pharmacological options such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and muscle relaxants, in addition to non-pharmacological methods like exercise and massage,” Cashin noted.
Assessing Treatment Efficacy
The study identified various ineffective treatments for acute low back pain, including exercise, steroid injections, and paracetamol (acetaminophen). Similarly, for chronic low back pain, antibiotics and anesthetics also emerged as “unlikely suitable treatment options.”
Conversely, the study did point to NSAIDs as possibly effective for acute low back pain. For chronic conditions, the potential effectiveness of exercise, taping, spinal manipulation, certain antidepressants, and transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) agonists was noted, though these effects were described as minimal.
“Factors such as stress, sleep quality, fatigue, fear, social interactions, nutrition, health status, and previous pain history all influence our pain experience,” Cashin stated.
The researchers described their findings as “inconclusive” for many treatments due to insufficient participant numbers and the overall quality of the studies analyzed. “There is a pressing need for high-quality, placebo-controlled trials to better understand treatment efficacy and eliminate uncertainties for patients and healthcare providers,” Cashin emphasized.
EXAMINING LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS FOR BACK PAIN
Dr. Stephen Clark, a physical therapist and chief clinical officer at Confluent Health in Georgia, pointed out the study’s focus on “isolated interventions.” He noted, “They excluded research that couldn’t isolate the efficacy of the specific intervention being examined.”
Understanding the Complexity of Pain
Clark acknowledged that pain is a multifaceted condition, significantly influenced by various factors. “Identifying a specific cause of persistent low back pain is often quite challenging, as this study illustrates,” he explained.
“Elements such as stress, sleep, emotional well-being, and personal health history can significantly affect how pain is experienced,” he continued, suggesting that “multimodal” treatment approaches that incorporate several strategies tailored to individual patient needs are typically more effective.
“Research in physical therapy indicates that techniques such as manual therapy, active movement strategies like exercise, and patient education can greatly assist in pain management,” Clark advised.
Importantly, he cautioned against viewing treatment outcomes solely based on individual experiences. “What proves effective for one person may not necessarily translate to another,” he reminded.
While surgical options can benefit specific cases, Clark noted that they should not be the first approach to treatment. “Surgery should be seen as a last resort for non-emergency situations,” he said, adding that “many cases can be managed effectively through conservative care to potentially avoid invasive procedures.”
Source
www.foxnews.com