Back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek medical attention. Back pain represents the second most frequent reason patients go to their physician, the fifth most frequent reason for hospitalization, and the third most frequent reason for surgery. The prevalence of back pain is estimated to occur in as much as 80% of the population, meaning that most people will suffer from a back pain episode at some point in their life.

With the exception of a specific traumatic event or identifiable medical condition, the exact cause of back pain has been poorly understood. Most back pain sufferers do not require surgery, yet 85% of these individuals will experience intermittent attacks of severe back pain every three months to three years. Recent research has also shown that even patients requiring surgery are no better off 2 years after surgical intervention. What, then, is the answer for patients suffering from back pain?

Because of the poor understanding of most back pain conditions, hundreds of different back pain treatment approaches have been tried over the centuries. With all of the different treatments for back pain available, it's nearly impossible for a person to research and verify which treatments are the most effective. The startling truth is that the majority of the available treatment options have been shown to be INEFFECTIVE. The purpose of this article is to provide the reader with a review of the most effective treatment approaches for back pain.

Regardless of the type of treatment you may be considering for your back pain (chiropractic, physical therapy, or any of the popularly advertised approaches), the number one question you should ask is, 'Is the treatment based on scientifically validated treatment protocols and documented medical research?'. Secondly, documentation of long term treatment outcomes specific to the protocol should be available to substantiate the claims of any health care provider.

Volumes of published medical research and years of clinical experience have led to the development of a comprehensive back pain treatment program that incorporates the following components: active muscle re-education, spinal decompression therapy, external bracing and supports, and patient education.

Active Rehabilitation

For years, the underlying cause of some of the more common back problems (sciatica, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, arthritic changes, and muscular spasm) was poorly understood. The only for sure treatment remedy was time, as most back pain would resolve itself within a short time by doing nothing at all. Unfortunately, the symptoms would return at some point, and the older the patient got, the more frequent and intense the symptoms became.

In 1991, a team of European physicians and medical researchers began to investigate the underlying cause of back pain. The research identified the deep muscles of the spine as being highly susceptible to atrophy or shrinkage. As a result, the dynamic stability of the spine became affected, resulting in an acceleration of the degenerative or aging process. This decline in spinal muscle performance seems to be the catalyst for such conditions as degenerative disc disease and spinal arthritis.

By isolating and targeting these muscle tissues with highly specific exercises, we are now able to interrupt this degenerative process, thereby, reducing the chances of reocurrence of back pain. Because the muscle re-education protocols are research based and utilize the best available methods for the treatment of the spine, the clinical results have been excellent, posting a greater than 93% success rate.

These specific muscle re-education protocols have been used extensively around the world and the results have been validated by research published in the most reputable medical journals. This back pain exercise works well for people who have had prior surgeries or who have had no success with other types of treatment.

Spinal Disc Decompression

Disc degeneration and subsequent herniation are a major source of chronic back pain. The disc has no blood supply in the adult population and, therefore, must get its nutrition by drawing fluid from the bony body above and below it. This type of nutrient transport makes the discs in your back some of the slowest healing tissues in your body, taking between 300 to 500 days for disc fibers to heal. Most people do damage to their discs faster than the body can repair them, leading to the onset of further disc degeneration.

Spinal disc decompression, formerly referred to as spinal traction, has evolved significantly over the past 20 years. The current technology allows the treating clinician to target the affected disc and generate a distractive force that creates a negative pressure within the disc. This negative pressure acts like a vacuum, drawing in nutrient rich fluids to assist in the healing process and helping to reduce disc bulges. M.R.I. follow up studies show significant reduction in disc bulges along with an increase in the transfer of fluid into the disc as a result of decompression treatment. Although no long term studies on the effectiveness of disc decompression are available, short term results cite pain reduction effectiveness as high as 85%.

External Bracing

You have probably heard that you shouldn't wear a back brace because it will weaken your muscles. This is not true. The most current research on back supports indicates that they have no adverse effects on the muscles of your back.

Back braces serve several important functions, and their effectiveness as part of a treatment program is well documented. A back or neck brace must be of the right size, type, and material to be effective. Bracing helps to stabilize a weak area. Most back problems also include muscle imbalances and mechanical problems. The back brace keeps the spine in a good posture and helps prevent motions that could re-injure the affected area.

Bracing also serves as a reminder that your back is still recovering. Most people tend to increase their activity ten fold when they feel about ten percent better. Lack of pain does not mean that your problem is resolved, and the back brace helps to serve as a reminder and a protection.

Education

Studies show that nearly 40% of all back pain patients will have a relapse of their condition within 18 months. The most important key to long-term prevention is education. Learning scientifically verifiable methods of protecting your back and preventing re-injury is a cornerstone of any comprehensive spine rehab program.

Bad science, "old wives' tales, " and gimmicks are common in the care of back and neck injuries. As with many areas of human performance, information on the "best" methods of treatment can be conflicting. Although your friend may have benefited from a particular exercise or brace, that doesn't mean you will benefit. In fact, what helped someone else may be harmful to you. It is important that you be provided with not only general care information, but with specific information related to your particular problem. In this way, you can be assured that you are receiving the most accurate information for your particular condition.

Conclusion

Taken independently, these methods of treatment are not a panacea for the treatment of back pain, but are an integral part of a comprehensive spinal rehabilitation program. The combination of these treatment approaches represents the latest research based technologies for the treatment of the spine.