Back Pain Is Often Over-Treated

Despite abundant evidence and published guidelines calling for conservative initial treatment of most back pain through methods including physical therapy and over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine (“Worsening Trends in the Management and Treatment of Back Pain” – September 23, 2013) indicates that physicians often over-treat back pain, with increases in use of imaging, narcotics, and referrals to other physicians. The over-treatment leads to unnecessary expenses.

Early physical therapy has been shown to be a cost-effective treatment for low back pain.

Helpful Resources:

• Health Center for Low Back Pain
• Early Physical Therapy Can Be Cost-Effective Treatment for Low Back Pain
• Beginning Low Back Pain Treatment With Advanced Imaging Leads to Higher Total Costs
• Physical Therapy Equal to Surgery for Spinal Stenosis
• Physical Therapy as Effective as Surgery for Degenerative Disk Disease
• Podcast: Back Pain: Avoiding Unnecessary Treatment
• Podcast: Success Story: Avoiding Back Surgery to Return to Marathons
• Podcast: Natalie Gulbis on Back Pain and the Physical Demands of Golf
• Podcast: Treatment for Spinal Stenosis: Comparing Physical Therapy and Surgery
• Physical Therapist’s Guide to Low Back Pain
• Physical Therapist’s Guide to Spinal Stenosis

This information was originally published on the American Physical Therapy Association website.  Click here to view it.