Low Back Pain Guidelines

Waterloo Chiropractic and Massage

Low Back Pain Guidelines; adopting a proactive and preventative care for Low Back Pain?

We explore Low Back Pain guidelines and these two papers are central to the clinic ethos at Waterloo Chiropractic.

Australian researchers have cited the following reasons for increasing prevalence of low back pain in society. This problem isn’t just going away by itself!

  • Ageing world population
  • Sedentary lifestyle
  • Reducing access to quality health care resources
  • Heavy reliance on surgical and medication prescription

The key to addressing low back pain is to adopt a proactive, preventative guideline to care for this healthcare issue. This is something our practitioners promote in the clinic as we care for people suffering from spinal pain.

Paper 1:

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(18)30725-6/fulltext

Conclusion:

“Low back pain is a major problem throughout the world and it is getting worse—largely because of the ageing and increasing world population.1 It affects all age groups and is generally associated with sedentary occupations, smoking, obesity, and low socioeconomic status.2 Years lived with disability caused by low back pain have increased by more than 50% since 1990, especially in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs).1,2 Disability related to low back pain is projected to increase most in LMICs where resources are limited, access to quality health care is generally poor, and lifestyle changes and shifts towards more sedentary work for some mean the risks will only increase.”

Paper 2:

http://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736(18)30489-6.pdf

“Many clinical practice guidelines recommend similar approaches for the assessment and management of low back pain. Recommendations include:

  • Use of a biopsychosocial framework to guide management
  • Initial non-pharmacological treatment
  • Including education that supports self-management
  • Resumption of normal activities and exercise
  • psychological programmes for those with persistent symptoms.

Recommendations promote prudent use of:

  • medication
  • imaging
  • surgery

The advances with the greatest potential are arguably those that:

  • align practice with the evidence
  • reduce the focus on spinal abnormalities
  • ensure promotion of activity and function, including work participation.

Further promising, or emerging solutions that could offer new directions, but that need greater attention and further research to determine if they are appropriate for large-scale implementation. These potential solutions include:

  •  focused strategies to implement best practice
  • the redesign of clinical pathways
  • integrated health and occupational interventions to reduce work disability
  • changes in compensation and disability claims policies, and public health and prevention strategies.

NOTE : The recommendations are based on trials almost exclusively from high-income countries, focused mainly on treatments rather than on prevention, with limited data for cost-effectiveness. However, globally, gaps between evidence and practice exist, with limited use of recommended first-line treatments and inappropriately high use of imaging, rest, opioids, spinal injections, and surgery. Doing more of the same will not reduce back-related disability or its long-term consequences.”

Waterloo Chiropractic and Sports Massage believe in the merit of these guidelines and adopt the literature to enhance the outcomes for our patients. Book online https://waterloochiropractic.cliniko.com/bookings or call P| 0296900911

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