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