A new treatment for low back pain sufferers

A new treatment for low back pain sufferers

It is estimated that about 80% of adults will experience low back pain during their lifetime, with its prevalence increasing with age, and for about a quarter of people, becoming a chronic, frustrating condition that lasts more than three months and can last for years.

clinical trials

A new treatment known as Cognitive Functional Therapy (CFT) has been put into a clinical trial of nearly 500 participants with chronic back pain across 20 physical therapy practices. 12 weeks, and a follow-up visit six months later - they reported significant improvement in mobility and pain levels, which persisted long after treatment.

Developed by Professor Peter O'Sullivan, from the Perth Curtin School of Health in Australia, the new treatment method takes a physical and psychological approach, where chronic sufferers are armed with the tools to manage their condition with confidence and the skills to move in ways that reduce disability.

cases improved by 80%

Professor O'Sullivan said: "The new treatment is based on the individual characteristics of the person with chronic back pain, by addressing their concerns and movement limitations under the skillful guidance of a trained physiotherapist. and injections, because it puts the person in charge of their condition, helps them understand the factors that contribute to their pain, and builds control and confidence in their body in order to return to valuable activities.

"It was rare and exciting to discover that the significant reduction in pain and distress experienced by these people, who suffer from chronic back pain, lasted for a full year," he added.

According to the study, conducted by researchers at Curtin, Monash and Macquarie Universities in Australia, more than 80% of patients who received CFT were happy with the results, citing the psychological benefits of being able to move with newfound confidence.

clear roadmap

“Low back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide, contributing to lost work productivity and early retirement worldwide,” said Peter Kent, assistant professor in the Curtin University School of Medicine and the study’s principal investigator, adding, “The exciting results of occupational therapy Cognitive provides hope to the millions of people around the world who suffer from back pain.

It also provides a clear roadmap for clinicians, health services, and policymakers on how to reduce the growing burden of chronic back pain through a high-value, low-risk approach based on the best scientific evidence.”

Mark Hancock, from Macquarie University who led the trial of the new treatment in Sydney and is currently teaching the principles of treatment to students, noted that it took five months of intensive training to train the 18 practitioners who participated in the clinical trial, explaining that the positive effects and benefits for 80% of patients lasted for periods ranging from Between one and three years.

Positive psychological and economic effects

Researchers believe that this therapeutic approach, which addresses the psychological aspect of the chronic condition as well as dealing with individual physical problems, has another major benefit.

Co-author of the study, Professor Terry Haines, a professor at Monash University, expressed his expectation that the results would contribute to achieving positive effects on economic efficiency in terms of health care and spending rates globally because lower back pain represents an economic burden due to loss of worker productivity and early retirement in the whole world.

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