Hands-on relief - Back Talk

Shape, May, 2002 by Jenna McCarthy

Good old-fashioned massage may be the best way to treat back pain. In a study of 262 patients with persistent lower-back pain, some underwent weekly acupuncture treatments, some enjoyed weekly therapeutic massages (Swedish, deep-tissue, neuromuscular or pressure-point massage), and others just received a book and video about back pain. After 10 weeks, the massaged group had the fewest symptoms, used the least medications and had the lowest cost of subsequent care.

And, even if you have pain for longer than six weeks, you might want to skip the X-rays, unless your doctor has reason to suspect serious spinal disease. A study of 421 patients with lower-back pain found that those who got x-rays reported more severe and longer-lasting pain than those who did not. Researchers speculate that getting x-rays reinforces people's belief that they are unwell and may make them more inclined to express discomfort and limit activity. Inactivity, in turn, often leads to muscle weakness, which can worsen back pain.