| Terry O'Brien General Manager of Back | | | | many patients. These are the patients |
| Trouble UK says that, "Physical therapy | | | | who often feel that something in their |
| has a significant benefit for mechanical | | | | back has `jammed' and feel the need for |
| back pain. Studies show that, for | | | | physical therapy. Such patients who have |
| patients presenting with acute back | | | | received relief, sometimes |
| pain, spinal mobilisation and/or | | | | instantaneously, in the past for a |
| manipulation is more effective than | | | | similar disorder will seek out |
| placebo in the short term and thus | | | | therapists who provide this treatment. |
| reduces the period of morbidity, | | | | Manipulation's bad name, particularly |
| allowing an earlier return to work. | | | | among surgeons who have to deal with |
| The timing of the treatment is | | | | subsequent disrupted discs is related to |
| important. If the medical practitioner | | | | inappropriate spinal manipulation that |
| is unskilled with physical therapy, | | | | aggravates the problem or fails to help |
| referral is appropriate. Spinal | | | | over a long period of time. |
| manipulation is contraindicated or | | | | The management of back pain is |
| ineffective in patients with acute low | | | | incorrectly portrayed as a difficult |
| back pain with spasm, fixed lateral | | | | problem shrouded in medical ignorance. |
| scoliosis or sciatica. | | | | The physician has to provide optimal |
| The gentler technique of mobilisation | | | | circumstances for the dysfunction |
| may be effective in providing relief and | | | | problem to heal itself. The key to |
| shortening the period of disability. | | | | successful management is for the |
| Once the severe pain and spasm phase | | | | practitioner to be well informed, |
| subsides (average 3-7 days), then it is | | | | confident and believable, and be |
| usually possible to apply the more | | | | prepared to give or organise safe |
| vigorous spinal manipulation technique. | | | | effective physical therapy for back |
| However, it is possible to perform | | | | problems which are slow to respond to |
| manipulation safely from the outset in | | | | conservative methods. |