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The trouble with pain in lower back

It can be difficult to treat because the muscles and connective tissues in the back are constantly in motion, supporting our frame in all activities of our lives. As a result, patients can become frustrated with their progress during recovery.

Q What are some noninvasive treatments for lower-back pain?

A. Lower back pain, or lumbago, is one of the leading reasons for medical visits each year in the U.S. It can be difficult to treat because the muscles and connective tissues in the back are constantly in motion, supporting our frame in all activities of our lives. As a result, patients can become frustrated with their progress during recovery.

Taking medications such as NSAIDS (which include aspirin and ibuprofen), and minimizing physically stressful activity (such as lifting heavy objects) can be helpful but may not be enough for patients dealing with more constant, chronic pain - usually due to a repetitive injury to the structures of the back.

Patients may seek out more invasive remedies, such as injections, or even surgical procedures, which can be costly and are not effective for all types of back injury.

A recent study in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association found that osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) can be an alternative to more invasive treatments for some patients. In that study, patients reported a significant improvement in their pain after just six sessions over an eight week period.

Osteopathic physicians (DOs) who practice OMT utilize hands-on techniques to move your muscles, connective tissues, and joints in order to diagnose and treat ailments related to different structures in the body. The goal is to help aide your body's recovery from ailments, and restore their natural function.

DOs are fully licensed and receive equivalent training to MDs during their medical education, but receive extra training in OMT. DOs' philosophy is that the human body functions as one connected unit, and to treat the patient as such.

If you are interested in getting OMT please see osteopathic.org to find a DO physician in your area. Or talk to your physician, who may even be a DO.

Erik Polan, D.O., practices internal medicine at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.