New Guidelines Recommend Non-Invasive Treatment for Back Pain Such as Manipulation and Laser Therapy

The American College of Physicians (ACP) has just published new guidelines for the treatment of lower back pain.  The guidelines, which appear in the latest issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, are based on an extensive review of randomized controlled trials and observational studies.  The review seems to confirm what chiropractors have known for years: the best way to care for back pain is to focus on non-drug therapies.

The ACP’s recommendations include manipulation (chiropractic adjustments) and low level laser therapy, as well as others such as exercise, acupuncture, mindfulness-based therapies for stress reduction, tai chi and yoga.

The review of the trials also found that acetaminophen (Tylenol) does not reduce pain when compared to placebo.  The guidelines further recommend that opioid medications such as oxycodone should be a last resort.  This recommendation is particularly timely given Health Canada’s recent warnings about the overuse of opioid medications

For the full guidelines, click on the link below:

http://annals.org/aim/article/2603228/noninvasive-treatments-acute-subacute-chronic-low-back-pain-clinical-practice