3 Times Science Has Shown Osteopathy Helps Back Pain
More and more people in Ottawa are seeking out osteopathy as a possible remedy for their back pain.
Many of these people are recommended osteopathy by friends and family members who have had positive experiences.
Anecdotal evidence is good, but what does science say about osteopathy and back pain.
In this article, I outline three high-level clinical trials that show that osteopathic manual treatment may help back pain.
Let’s jump straight by looking at osteopathy and chronic lower back pain.
Chronic Lower Back Pain
A 2016 study looked at recovery from chronic lower back pain after six osteopathic manipulative treatments over eight weeks.
The researchers found that the osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) regimen was associated with significant effects on recovery from chronic lower back pain.
Based on these findings, the researchers recommended that “a trial of OMT may be useful before progressing to other more costly or invasive interventions in the medical management of people with chronic lower back pain.”
Pregnancy Back Pain
A 2010 clinical trial looked at the effect of OMT on back pain in the third trimester of pregnancy.
The researchers found that symptoms worsened less among pregnant women receiving OMT compared to those not.
Lower Back Pain And Hydration
In a 2012 clinical trial, researchers looked at the effect of OMT and hydration on lower back pain.
Eighteen participants with lower back pain were asked to modify their water consumption for 36 hours before receiving OMT.
The researchers found that lower back symptoms improved for all participants, whether they were well hydrated or not before treatments. Interestingly, the researchers observed more significant improvements when participants had increased their hydration before treatment.
What does this mean?
Presently there are very few clinical trials looking at the effectiveness of osteopathy on lower back pain. Despite that, results are encouraging.
Let’s hope that over time more studies will be undertaken.
What Do You Think?
Do you have back pain?
Does the existence of the above studies encourage you to try osteopathy?
Do you want to see more evidence?
Either way, let me know by leaving a comment below.