Do you have chronic low back pain that keeps you from enjoying your life and accomplishing daily tasks? A new study illustrates that osteopathic back manipulation may help to alleviate your symptoms. Reuters Health reported that researchers from the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth used osteopathic manipulation as a complementary treatment to help people who found painkillers ineffective.
The treatments consisted of moving out-of-line joints back into place, massaging muscles and tissues, and relaxing overused joints or muscles. This form of treatment and ultrasound therapy – used for treating soft tissue injuries – were tested for effectiveness.
“I think the osteopathic approach is different in that it takes a more overarching view, so you wouldn’t necessarily restrict your examination or treatment to the lower back,” Dr. John Licciardone, from the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth, told the news source.
The researchers followed 455 patients with chronic low back pain who had either a placebo treatment, ultrasound therapy or osteopathic back manipulation. At the end of the trial, 63 percent of the patients who received osteopathic manipulation reported a lessening of their pain. Ultrasound therapy, however, did not show any long-term improvement in pain management. If you are experiencing painful sensations in your spine, especially your lower back, ask your primary care doctor or chiropractor if osteopathic back manipulation may help.