For lower back pain, osteopathy should be offered before considering surgery, according to an American study.
Low back pain affects more than 600 million people around the world, and is the main cause of disability. Among the various options available to back pain victims, osteopathy is gaining favor with patients. Rightly so, if we are to believe the results of a study carried out at the University of North Texas (United States), and published in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association.
The treatments are however numerous – anti-inflammatory, infiltrations -, but are not always effective, and it is sometimes necessary to think about an often invasive and heavy surgical intervention. Before taking the plunge, patients should think about osteopathy, scientists advise.
Improvements in half of the cases
The trial involved 455 men and women aged 21 to 69 who had suffered from low back pain for at least three months. They underwent six osteopathy sessions spread over eight weeks. Their condition was assessed four weeks after the end of treatment on two criteria: pain and mobility.
Improvements were recorded in the majority of cases while significant benefit was defined as a reduction of at least 50% in pain and disability. Another interesting point is that the most disabled patients are those for whom the gains have been the most effective.
Osteopathy before surgery
“Osteopathic manipulations should be considered before any approach to more expensive and more invasive interventions,” said John Licciardone, osteopath and head of the study.
Surgeries related to lumbar pain are indeed heavy and their cost, associated with that of drugs, is important. In the United States, back pain procedures, medications, and work interruptions are estimated to cost more than $ 100 billion a year.
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