Did you know 31 million Americans experience low-back pain at any given time and low back pain is the single leading cause of disability worldwide? Half of working Americans experience back pain each year, and it’s a very common reason people miss work, and end up in the doctor’s office instead. Further, most back pain is mechanical in nature, instead of being caused by serious conditions such as cancer, fractures, infection, etc.
The American Chiropractic Association has compiled more such Back Pain Facts & Statistics, including what science is showing to be the most effective treatments (also available in PDF: ACA Back Pain Fact and Statistics). For instance,
Spinal manipulation is a safe and effective spine pain treatment. It reduces pain (decreasing the need for medication in some cases), rapidly advances physical therapy, and requires very few passive forms of treatment, such as bed rest.5
In fact, after an extensive study of all available care for low back problems, the federal Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (now the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality) recommended that low back pain sufferers choose the most conservative care first. And it recommended spinal manipulation as the only safe and effective, drugless form of initial professional treatment for acute low back problems in adults.6
A well respected review of the evidence in the Annals of Internal Medicine pointed to chiropractic care as one of the major nonpharmacologic therapies considered effective for acute and chronic low back pain.7
More recently, research has shown that there is strong evidence that spinal manipulation for back pain is just as effective as a combination of medical care and exercise, and moderate evidence that it is just as effective as prescription NSAIDS combined with exercise.8
More information on back pain is also available on the Absolute Wellness Center website, including treatment options and the benefits of conservative care first (or check out this helpful video on the same topic).
Under the guidance of chiropractic sports physician Dr. Michael Herb, Absolute Wellness Center offers chiropractic medicine, sports medicine, naturopathic medicine, physical rehabilitation, acupuncture, and therapeutic massage in Eugene, OR. To find out if any of these treatment options may be right for you, give us a call at 541-484-5777.