Back
pain might go away for a while, but you never know when it
will return. Research shows that recurrence rates for low
back pain soar as high as 50% in the 12 months following the
initial episode. And although patients are encouraged to return
to normal activities as soon as possible, many fear that movement
or activity will only make their pain worse.
In July, the British Medical Journal published a study that
evaluated the effectiveness of an exercise program for dealing
with back pain. One hundred and eighty-seven patients with
low back pain of 1-6 months duration were divided into an
exercise group or a control group. The exercise group participated
in eight one-hour classes that included muscle strengthening,
stretching, relaxation techniques and a brief education on
back care. The control group continued under the care of their
doctor.
Questionnaires completed six months and one year after the
program revealed that patients in the exercise group reported
less back pain and associated disability than the control
group. The exercise group also took less days off work than
the control group in the 12-month follow-up period (378 days
by the exercise group vs. 607 days by the control group).
As these results suggest, something can be done about back
pain. In fact, exercise is just one of many potential options
available to back pain sufferers. A doctor of chiropractic
can evaluate you and outline the most appropriate course of
rehabilitation for your condition.
Reference:
Moffett JK, Torgerson D, Bell-Syer S, et al. Randomised
controlled trial of exercise for low back pain: clinical outcomes,
cost and preferences. British Medical Journal, July 31, 1999:
Vol. 319, No. 7205, pp279-283.
For more information on back pain, go to https://www.chiroweb.com/find/tellmeabout/backpain.html
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