|
Do you have LBP? READ THIS!
On October 2, 2007, in
the very respected journal Annals of Internal
Medicine, the American College of Physicians (ACP)
and the American Pain Society (APS) have issued a
comprehensive joint clinical practice guideline for
the diagnosis and treatment of low back pain (LBP).
These guidelines offer the most current,
evidence-based recommendations concerning how to
categorize patients, when to order tests (i.e.
X-rays), educational information for patients,
self-care, when to prescribe medications and
nonpharmacologic therapy. These guidelines are
directly intended to educate any health care
provider treating LBP patients such as medical
doctors, physiotherapists, chiropractors,
osteopaths.
Studies indicate more
than 80% of people will have LBP in their lifetime
and 25% of adults have had LBP in the past three
months.
LBP is categorized into
3 subgroups: - nonspecific LBP (i.e. 85 % of
patients),
back pain due to spinal conditions such as sciatica,
®
- back pain associated with another cause, such as
infection or cancer.
The guidelines suggest
that patient education about current evidence-based
information on LBP such as expected course and
effective self-care options be discussed during the
patient’s visits. For nonspecific LBP, if
medication is chosen, it is recommended that
acetaminophen or NSAID’s be used (i.e. Ibuprofen)
with a review of the risk-benefit ratio discussed.
When self-care options
do not help, health care providers should consider
nonpharmocologic options. For acute LBP (i.e. less
than one month), the only choice is spinal
manipulation. For chronic or subacute LBP, choices
that will help include multi-modal rehabilitation,
exercise therapy, acupuncture, massage therapy,
spinal manipulation and yoga.
What does all this mean
to you, the potential patient. The American College
of Physicians has suggested that if you have acute
nonspecific LBP and self-care has offered no relief,
spinal manipulation (most effectively provided by a
chiropractor) should be the only choice of therapy.
If your LBP has been present longer than one month,
your safest options with the best chance for relief
include spinal manipulation, exercise therapy,
multi-modal rehab (i.e. exercise ball core
strengthening, cardiovascular exercises,
stretching), acupuncture, massage therapy or yoga.
Today’s current
chiropractor will offer/provide multi-modal therapy
for conditions such as LBP that includes, spinal
manipulation, exercise therapy, self-care advice,
lifestyle recommendations, and return-to-play
guidelines.
If you or someone you
know suffers from LBP, see a health care provider
knowledgeable in the current guidelines. You may be
surprised what the safest and most effective therapy
recommended for your LBP is.
|
