Background:

Low back pain is one of the most common worldwide healthcare problems. The worldwide prevalence of low back pain is 12% and growing as the world’s population ages. Additionally, we know that about half of people who have an episode of back pain have another episode within one year – back pain becomes a cyclical problem! This study looked at what can be used to avoid recurrences and what works at keeping back pain at bay.

How the study was performed:

The study looked at previous research that investigated various methods of avoiding future episodes of back pain. These methods included: education, back braces, ergonomic work stations, shoe insoles, and exercise. Only the highest quality research was used to make this comparison (ie. random controlled studies).

What we learn from this research:

Exercise alone, but especially in combination with education, is effective for preventing low back pain. Back braces, shoe insoles, and education alone do not prevent future occurrences of back pain. Therefore, like we advocate here at the American Back Center, the exercises we do with you in the office must be done on an ongoing basis at home in order to be effective – an exercise won’t do itself!

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A randomized control trial of exercise for low back pain.

Background

Low back pain is often reported to improve with generalized, non-specific exercises regardless of the patient’s specific presentation. But is this true? This study compared people with low back pain who were given either patient-specific exercises using a method called McKenzie Technique, or generalized low back exercises.

How the study was performed

There were three groups: one got patient-specific, McKenzie exercises, the second group got the opposite of the patient-specific exercises (ie. exercises in the wrong direction!), and the third group got generalized, non-specific exercises which were the same for every patient in the group.

What we learn from this research

The McKenzie group – which was given the patient-specific exercise – improved statistically across all measures including pain, medication use and disability. More so, these improvements were statistically superior in all measures as compared to the generalized exercise program. What this means is that by using McKenzie technique, we can determine the correct exercise program and once we do, the outcomes are far superior to those routine, generalized exercises commonly prescribed in Physical Therapy settings.

low back pain chicago

Background