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Alternative medicine
By Mayo Clinic staffA few nontraditional methods have been shown to relieve symptoms in people with low back pain. Ask your doctor whether you could benefit from:
- Acupuncture. Studies have shown that acupuncture — a traditional Chinese healing technique in which fine needles are inserted into your skin in areas thought to correspond to different organs and systems — may provide short-term relief from low back pain.
- Massage. Massage can benefit people with low back pain.
- Spinal manipulation. Chiropractic manipulation of the spine is mildly effective for acute low back pain, but may be of little benefit for long-standing back pain. Spinal manipulation may not be appropriate if you're experiencing sciatica, so consult your doctor before using this therapy.
- Yoga. Breathing techniques, yoga postures and deep relaxation may improve function and lessen symptoms in people with low back pain. Some yoga poses, however, can worsen low back symptoms, so avoid any positions that cause pain.
References
- 1. Herniated Disc. NeurosurgeryToday.org. http://www.neurosurgerytoday.org/what/patient_e/herniated.asp. Accessed Oct. 5, 2008.
- 2. Chou R. Patient Information: Low back pain. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 2, 2008.
- 3. Wheeler SG, et al. Approach to the diagnosis and evaluation of low back pain in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 2, 2008.
- 4. What is back pain? National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Back_Pain/back_pain_ff.pdf. Accessed Oct. 5, 2008
- 5. Hu SS, et al. Disorders, diseases and injuries of the spine. In: Skinner HD. Current Diagnosis and Treatment in Orthopedicas. 4th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2006. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2319599. Accessed Oct. 5, 2008.
- 6. Herniated disk. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00334&return_link=0. Accessed Oct. 5, 2008.
- 7. Chou R. Subacute and chronic low back pain: Pharmacologic and noninterventional treatment. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 2, 2008.
- 8. Knight CL, et al. Treatment of low acute back pain. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 2, 2008.
- 9. Health care guideline: Adult low back pain. Bloomington, Minn.: Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement. http://www.icsi.org/low_back_pain/adult_low_back_pain__8.html. Accessed Oct. 15, 2008.
- 10. Shelerud RA (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Oct. 12, 2008.
- 11. Heliovaara M. Body height, obesity, and risk of herniated lumbar intervertebral disc. Spine. 1987;12(5):469-472.
