New Chronic Low Back Pain Guidelines

The American College of Physicians have updated their Clinical Practice Guidelines for Low Back Pain.

The American College of Physicians study1 which looked at non pharmacologic intervention for low back pain showed that spinal manipulation was among the list of therapies that are supported with some evidence for chronic low back pain. Doctors should avoid prescribing opioid pain killers and before patients first try muscle relaxants they should first try alternative therapies like spinal manipulation and exercise as it is important for the patient to remain active.

According to the University of Maryland  Medical Center2  about 60-80 percent of the adult U.S. population have low back pain and it is the second most common reason people go to the doctor. Back pain is the leading cause of disability for Americans under 45 years old. Low back pain effects the spine's flexibility, strength and stability.

References:

1. http://annals.org/aim/article/2603230/nonpharmacologic-therapies-low-back-pain-systematic-review-american-college-physicians

2. http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/condition/low-back-pain