Most treatment options to ease chronic back pain are not effective, latest evidence has indicated.
Researchers have found that only one treatment for acute low back pain is effective, as well as five treatments for chronic back pain.
Short-term back pain can be eased by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, the study has reported.
Meanwhile, treatments for long-term back pain include taping, exercise, drugs that target the pain receptors transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), spinal manipulative therapy and antidepressants, according to the findings.
- AI as effective as doctors for giving advice on back pain
- Experts warn rising back and neck problems are causing a health crisis
- Major study finds genetic risk of developing heart disease is the same across almost all racial backgrounds
Six in ten adults in the UK suffer from lower back pain, data has shown. Scientists from the University of New South Wales in Australia want further research to be conducted in a bid to find more effective treatments for back pain.
“Our review did not find reliable evidence of large effects for any of the included treatments,” said the authors.
They added: “While we would like to provide more certain recommendations for where to invest and disinvest in treatments, it is not possible at this time.
“There is a clear need for large, high-quality, placebo-controlled trials to reduce uncertainty in efficacy estimates for many non-surgical and non-interventional treatments.”
A study published in the BMJ analysed 301 previous trials which looked at 56 non-surgical back pain treatments.
The researchers said: “Best available evidence shows that one in ten common non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for low back pain are efficacious, providing small analgesic effects beyond placebo.
“Exercise, the pain medication paracetamol – Tylenol or Panadol – and corticosteroid injections probably provides little to no difference in pain for acute lower back issues.”
According to the results, antibiotics and anaesthetics were not efficacious for long-term lower back problems.
- Well paid jobs associated with more stress but greater life satisfaction
- Brain activity alters when limiting smartphone use
- Lower waist-to-hip ratio in midlife linked to better cognitive function
People can also manage back pain by using ice, heat, elevation, rest, immobilisation, and exercise, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence said: “Diagnosis of back pain includes a variety of symptoms, which means that one approach to treatment does not fit all.
“Patients should be offered access to a greater range of treatments if initial approaches do not work.”
Ash James, Director of Practice and Development at the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, said: “Back pain is complex, with many contributing factors, so no single treatment will work for everyone, all the time.
“Physiotherapists are skilled at identifying the root causes of pain and tailoring treatments to meet the unique needs of each individual.”
Ash James added: “Through a person-centred approach, they can explore a wide range of factors that may contribute to discomfort, such as stress, fear of movement, poor sleep, smoking, obesity, job-related strain and insufficient physical activity.
“Most cases of back pain, while uncomfortable, are not serious and, with the right advice and early intervention, usually resolve quickly.”
