Massage away back pain
by Mary Calvagna, MS
Back pain is a significant health problem in the United States. Four out of five people will experience back pain anywhere from a mild, annoying pain to a persistent, disabling pain at some point in their lives. And more than $50 billion a year is spent on the diagnosis and treatment of back pain.
Back pain is one of the most common reasons for visiting a complementary and alternative medical therapist. In 1997, one-third of back pain sufferers tried alternative medicine for relief, most commonly chiropractic, massage therapy, and acupuncture.
Numerous clinical trials have been conducted on the effectiveness of acupuncture and therapeutic massage, but most have been inconclusive because of poor study quality. This lack of rigorous studies led researchers to look at acupuncture and massage again. The results of their efforts were published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.*
Finding the best alternative
The study included more than 250 people who had persistent back pain. The participants were randomized to receive one of three treatments: traditional Chinese medical acupuncture, therapeutic massage, or self-care educational materials, which included a book and two professionally produced videotapes. People in the massage and acupuncture groups were allowed to schedule up to 10 visits over 10 weeks.
After 10 weeks, almost 75% of the people receiving massage found it to be very helpful, compared with 46% for acupuncture and 21% for the self-care materials. In addition, the massage group had less severe symptoms of back pain and lower levels of dysfunction, which researchers defined as limitation of daily activities due to back pain.
At the one-year follow-up, researchers found that the massage outcomes less severe symptoms and lower dysfunction remained stable. In addition, the group who received massage used the least medications for back pain and had the lowest cost of subsequent care.
Preventing back pain
It is never too early to start protecting your back. For people 45 years or younger, back pain is the most frequent cause of activity limitation. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers some tips to help prevent back injury.
- Use the correct lifting and moving techniques. Here are some quick tips for lifting:
- Spread your feet shoulder-width apart to give yourself a solid base of support.
- Bend your knees.
- Tighten your stomach muscles.
- Position the person or object close to your body before lifting.
- Lift with your leg muscles. Never lift an object by keeping your legs stiff while bending over it.
- Exercise regularly to keep the muscles that support your back strong and flexible.
- Don't slouch; poor posture puts a strain on your lower back.
- Maintain your proper body weight to avoid straining your back muscles.
- Keep a positive attitude about your job and home life. Studies show that people who are unhappy at work or home tend to have more back problems and take longer to recover than people who have a positive attitude.
For more information about back pain and what you can do to prevent and treat it, visit HealthGate's Back Pain Center.
Last reviewed June 2001 by Medical Review Board
