Low back pain is an all too common problem. Lower back pain can be chronic, causing aches and pains on a daily basis. Or it can seemingly come and go with the weather — causing intense pain one day and then disappearing with the next.
Many seek medical attention to try to deal with this nagging condition and are prescribed drugs. Acetaminophen, for example, is considered a safe but not always effective treatment for low back pain. NSAIDs may effectively relieve pain, but they can also cause prescription side effects in the form of stomach and heart problems. And opioids and muscle relaxers can provide relief for those with severe pain, but their potential benefits and risks need to be weighed carefully.
What if you don’t want to take medication because of the potential side effects? Here’s something to try: a new study recently published by researchers at the Copenhagen Research Hospital in Denmark says that an alternative remedy for low back pain — the McKenzie method — may be just the ticket to get relief from painful symptoms.
The McKenzie method is a treatment for patients suffering from neck pain and/or back pain that teaches patients how to heal themselves and manage their own pain for life using exercise and other strategies.
For the study, the Danish research team compared the effects of the McKenzie method performed by certified therapists to spinal manipulation performed by chiropractors. A total of 350 patients suffering from low back pain participated in the treatments.
The researchers found that at two months’ follow-up, the McKenzie treatment was superior to manipulation with respect to the number of patients who reported improved symptoms. In particular, the McKenzie group showed improvements in levels of disability compared to the manipulation group.
The researchers concluded that, in patients with low back pain lasting for more than six weeks, the McKenzie method was found to be more effective than manipulation of the spine.
Other alternative cures for back pain include yoga and good posture. Keeping the back relaxed and flexible is often the best line of defense.
Another trick for easing low back pain is to make sure that the chair you use most often has arm rests. Arm rests help to take pressure off your spine. When you are sleeping, make sure that your neck and back are properly supported.
Shoes are very important as well when it comes to easing chronic low back pain. They must support your foot in all the right places so that your spine is balanced when you are standing or moving.
Dr. Victor Marchione received his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1973 and his Medical Degree from the University of Messina in 1981. He has been licensed and practicing medicine in New York and New Jersey for over 20 years.
Dr. Marchione is a respected leader in the field of smoking cessation and pulmonary medicine. He has been featured on ABC News and World Report, CBS Evening News with Dan Rather and the NBC Today Show and is an editor at the popular Doctor's Health Press website.
Dr. Marchione has also served as Principal Investigator in at least a dozen clinical research projects relating to serious ailments such as bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
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anonymoose says
March 25, 2011 at 3:40 pmI know that too much may cause stomach ulcers/bleeding but How can NSAIDs cause heart problems?
Scooter says
March 25, 2011 at 8:31 pmSome information about what the McKenzie method is and how it works would have been helpful.
Anonymous says
March 25, 2011 at 8:32 pmI was fortunate to be a patient guinea pig during a training session for some physical therapists who were learning about the McKenzie Method and was given the book Heal Your Own Neck. Amazing and it worked! Maybe because I was dedicated to ending the muscle spasms that kept me from sleeping for 3 months! In order for the exercises to work, you have to do more than read and look at the pictures. You gotta want it and do it!
Oscar G. Perez says
March 25, 2011 at 11:14 pmRe: Use This Alternative Remedy to Ease Low Back Pain article.
What the McKenzie method is? Were can I obtain this treatment?
Your help will be greatly appreciated. Oscar G. Perez
Anonymous says
March 26, 2011 at 3:58 amLMAO Sooooo while this mystery thing helps back pain.Just what the heck is it ???!!! What a non article
Anonymous says
March 26, 2011 at 6:49 amive just done a search in my local area in Perth, western australia, and have found a physiotherapist who uses the mckenzie method for spinal therapy just 10mins away. there is some info on their website and i also rang to find out more. it sounds like a good option to try for my back problem. basically in short … an active treatment with emphasis on self exercise and healing. i like that it seems to be on client education and empowers the client to treat themselves. im definitely giving this therapy a go. i sugges you guys do a local search in your area too.
Robert Radtke says
April 4, 2011 at 8:58 pmTry this book: Treat Your Own Back” by robin McKenzie from Spinal Publicatons New Zealand Ltd, PO Box 93 Waikanae, New Zealand ISBN 0-9597746-6-1 The list price on the book is $14.95. It’s 80 pages and has numerous demo photos. I tried what was good for me and it worked.
Ron Vernon says
May 19, 2011 at 4:40 pmHere’s some information that might help. Disc 101: the disc is made of the two different parts the nucleous pulposus which is the pivot point of every disc and the outer concentric rings which are made up of cartilage. When the disc degenerates or dries out it becomes brittle or less elastic and that is when we get disc herniations. This process is normally initiated by some type of injury and over time plus gravity the disc continues to dry out or degenerate. The disc loses its hieght and causes the nuclear material to bulge out, like pushing down on the water balloon, causing a pinched nerve and possibly canel stenosis. This is when you start having chronic low back or neck pain and usual types of therapy stop helping.
The key to lasting relief is to rehydrated the dry disc material so that the disc can increase in height, pulling the disc material off the nerves and and allowing the disc to become healthier. Once the disc becomes healthier the core strengthening, exercises, stretches and other types of therapy become more effective.
I personally came down with chronic debilitating low back and neck pain six years ago at the age of 39. For years I tried chiropractic, acupuncture, physical therapy, manipulation under anesthesia and medications and nothing helped. I did a lot of research and found that there was only one thing that could help rehydrate my disc and that was nonsurgical spinal decompression or disc rehydration therapy. It has kept me away from surgery and pain meds and not to mention the psychological relief that has provided me. Those of you who have had chronic neck or low back pain will understand the psychological relief. My disc are healthier and along with proper diet and exercise have kept me pain-free.