What Research Recommends for Relieving Acute and Chronic Lower Back Pain

What Research Recommends for Relieving Acute and Chronic Lower Back Pain

Clinical guidelines are created by physicians and researchers to help physicians and patients care for specific health problems. Because low back pain is a significant problem in Western society, clinical guidelines have been developed to recommend appropriate treatment. This article discusses clinical guidelines for healthcare providers and patients seeking relief from back pain, as well as a promising approach to providing safe, cost-effective, acute and chronic relief from musculoskeletal back pain to the general public.

Family doctors are usually the first point of access for patients in our healthcare system. However, research shows that the average PCP does not have adequate training for musculoskeletal disorders. For example, 79% of physicians failed a basic cognitive musculoskeletal exam.

Spinal pain is a huge problem in America. Back problems account for almost a third of chronic pain. This contributes to long-term disability, opioid addiction, and both financial and societal costs.

As a result, experts have recently called for the establishment of a primary spine care provider and recommended that chiropractors can fill this role. For example, the joint commission of the American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society recommends spinal manipulation, a nonpharmacologic treatment with proven benefits.

Chiropractors are the preeminent healthcare specialists when it comes to relieving lower spine pain. Doctors of Chiropractic are professionals trained in the diagnosis and treatment of physical, mechanical alignment problems associated with spinal pain.

Since most lower spine pain is due to mechanical problems such as: Such as misalignment and abnormal movement of the spine, performing spinal manipulations requires extensive training and skill. Becoming a chiropractor requires traditional undergraduate training plus five years of training at a chiropractic college. Chiropractic educational institutions offer academic courses in anatomy, physiology, pathology, kinesiology, biomechanics and diagnosis. Additionally, clinical courses are taught on manipulation of the spine (which chiropractors call “spinal adjustments”) and extremities, the use of physiological therapeutics such as electrical stimulation and cryotherapy, and rehabilitation exercises.

The guidelines for conservative treatment of lower spine pain indicate that chiropractic spinal manipulation is very safe. This is especially true when considering possible alternative treatments of opioid narcotics and spinal surgery.

The scientific literature examining the financial costs of various types of low back pain treatment also favors chiropractic care. The actual cost of treatment performed by doctors of chiropractic has been shown to be less than that of surgery, physical therapy, spinal injections, and certain forms of pharmacological treatment.

Research and evidence-based guidelines strongly indicate that chiropractors should be the first point of contact and provider for patients seeking relief from acute and chronic low back pain.

Inspired by James Schofield