Federal Guidelines On Low Back Pain Treatment

On December 8, 1994, The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, released an extensive study of diagnostic and treatment methods for acute low back pain. This condition is the most common health complaint experienced by working Americans today, and a condition which costs the economy at least $50 billion a year in lost wages and productivity.

The AHCPR panel -- a 23-member committee of 11 medical doctors, nurses, experts in spine research, physical therapists, a psychologist, an occupational therapist, 2 chiropractic doctors and a consumer representative -- concluded, among other things, that:

• spinal manipulation was the only recommended treatment that relieved symptoms, increased function and hastened recovery for acute low back problems in adults;
  
• conservative treatments such as spinal manipulation should be pursued - in most cases - before surgical intervention.
  
• prescription drugs such as oral steroids, antidepressant medications and colchicine are not recommended for acute low back problem
  

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