Special Physical Therapy Technique Successful for Chronic Back Pain

[Guest guest]

Special Physical Therapy Technique Successful for Chronic Back Pain

17 Apr 2005 Medical News Today

A physical therapy method is successful in treating people with

severe back pain due to disc disease, according to research that was

presented at the American Academy of Neurology 57th Annual Meeting in

Miami Beach, Fla., April 9 - 16, 2005.

The method, called Souchard's global postural re-education, involves

stretching and strengthening of para-spinal and other muscles

(abdominal wall) that have become weak and shortened through stress

and inadequate or overuse. This process improves symptoms by

correction of the patient's posture and decompression of the spinal

canal.

" These results are exciting, because other treatments for severe and

chronic back pain have limited or no benefit, and the pain rarely

goes away on its own, " said neurologist Conrado Estol, MD, PhD, of

the Neurologic Center for Treatment and Rehabilitation in Buenos

Aires, Argentina. " This method is easy for physical therapists to

incorporate into their practices after appropriate training. For

patients, having an effective treatment without the risks of surgery

and the side effects of chronic medication is wonderful. "

The study involved 102 people who had severe pain for an average of

seven months due to spinal disc protrusions, spinal canal stenosis,

or narrowing, or other disc disease. Of those, 82 had lower back pain

and 20 had neck pain. They all had received different combinations of

treatments for more than six months, including regular physical

therapy, rest, oral and intramuscular/intravenous anti-inflammatory

medications, acupuncture, and epidural injections.

The pain caused severe changes to the daily routines of 26 of the

people, meaning that they stopped working or exercising, could walk

fewer than five blocks without stopping, and had to make significant

changes to their usual routines. The pain caused moderate changes for

76 people, meaning they were missing work or workouts, could walk

fewer than 10 blocks without stopping, and could not complete all of

their usual routines.

The treatment included two physical therapy sessions during the first

week, then a session once a week for an average of five months. The

sessions also included breathing techniques. Patients were also given

a home exercise program. Of the 102 people, 92 had significant

improvement in their pain and were able to return fully to their

daily activities. For 85 percent, the improvement was noted after

three weeks of treatment. After an average of almost two years, the

pain has not recurred for these people.

Four people had significant improvement, but still had slight

discomfort with strenuous exercise. Six people had no improvement. Of

those, four had previous spine surgery, one had a rare brain

malformation, and one did have improvement after quitting a stressful

job.