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Back Pain Center Feature Story << return to Back Pain Center

Tackling Pain in Nontraditional Ways Experts urge 'open-minded skepticism' about alternative treatments (HealthDay News) -- Complementary and alternative treatments are becoming increasingly popular for pain, including back pain. And that seems to be OK with traditional health-care practitioners -- as long as they're in the loop. "Doctors and patients alike should approach the many offerings . . . with open-minded skepticism, to take advantage of what is likely to help and be on guard against what may cause harm," Dr. David L. Katz, director of the Yale University School of Medicine's Prevention Research Center, told HealthDay. The popularity of alternative treatments "highlights the importance of physicians being knowledgeable because it is here that patients most need expert guidance," Katz said. Richard L. Nahin, acting director of the U.S. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine's division of extramural research, co-authored a study in 2007 that found that 38 percent of adults and 12 percent of children in the United States use some form of complementary or alternative therapy. And back pain was among the top reasons adults said they turned to alternative treatments. Other frequently cited problems were neck pain, joint pain and arthritis, the study found. Fish oil, glucosamine, echinacea, flaxseed oil and ginseng were the most common supplements used by adults in the study. Meditation, deep-breathing exercises, chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation, massage and yoga were the most popular alternative treatment techniques. Women were more likely than men to be alternative treatment users (43 percent versus 34 percent in the study). Those who chose alternative treatments also were older, more educated, wealthier and more apt to live in the West. Among children, complementary or alternative treatments were most often used to treat back or neck pain, head or chest colds, anxiety or stress, musculoskeletal problems and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Echinacea, fish oil and flaxseed oil were popular among youngsters, too, but they also frequently turned to foods containing supplements, such as prebiotics and probiotics, the study found. Anyone considering alternative treatments should seek out reliable information, Nahin said. Most techniques -- such as acupuncture, massage and yoga -- are safe, but "herbal supplements may interfere with conventional medicine," he told HealthDay. "So let your conventional doctor know, so they can be monitoring you for any unexpected events." Mark Blumenthal, founder and executive director of the American Botanical Council, a nonprofit research group, described the use of alternative and complementary treatments as a positive trend. "People are using these products to enhance wellness," Blumenthal told HealthDay. "The dietary supplement increase reflects consumer trends toward improving and increasing their sense of wellness and their own self-empowerment with respect to their health." Prevention, though, remains of utmost importance. Keys to preventing back pain, according to the U.S. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, include: Eating a healthy diet. This includes daily calcium and vitamin D intake, to keep the spine strong and resistant to fractures, which can lead to chronic back pain. Maintaining a healthy weight. Or lose weight if you're overweight. This prevents unnecessary stress and strain on your back. Practicing good posture. Being careful when lifting things. Don't bend over the item but rather keep your back straight and lift it by putting the stress on your legs and hips. Better yet, avoid lifting heavy items if you have back problems. Exercising. This is one of the best ways to keep back muscles strong. Specifically, consider exercises that increase balance and strength and thus prevent falls and injuries as well as tai chi, yoga and any weight-bearing exercises that help improve balance and flexibility and diminish stiffness. However, anyone starting an exercise regimen should first check with a doctor -- something especially important for people with back pain because some types of exercise can actually worsen certain back conditions. However, anyone starting an exercise regimen should first check with a doctor -- something especially important for people with back pain because some types of exercise can actually worsen certain back conditions. On the Web To learn more about alternative treatments, visit the U.S. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. SOURCES: HealthDay News ; Richard L. Nahin, Ph.D., M.P.H., acting director, division of extramural research, U.S. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Bethesda, Md.; Mark Blumenthal, founder and executive director, American Botanical Council, Austin, Texas; David L. Katz, M.D., M.P.H., director, Prevention Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn., and director, Integrative Medicine Center, Griffin Hospital, Derby, Conn.; Dec. 10, 2008, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Among Adults and Children: United States, 2007; National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (www.niams.nih.gov) Author: Robert Preidt Publication Date: Sept. 30, 2009 Copyright © 2009 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.