Low back pain is a very common and disabling disorder. There are hundreds of treatments for back pain but none is ideal. Over the past few years, many doctors and alternative health care workers have been offering spinal manipulation therapies or “hands-on treatments” for the spine. This basically consists of manipulation and mobilization of the back joints. The manipulations are carried in certain directions and the often the joints are “cracked.” These treatments are undertaken for many weeks and months and are quite expensive. By the end of 3-6 months, you will most likely have spent anywhere from $3,000-$8,000 for the treatments. So does the therapy work?
Analysis of data done by Cochrane reviews revealed that spinal manipulation therapy was no better than physical therapy or regular exercise. So what does this mean to the consumer?
If you have money to spend, then perhaps you may want to start with a physical therapy program. If you have no money, then you can obtain the same benefit by doing exercise at home or at the gym. The type of exercises to help increase muscle strength and mobility can be obtained from cyberspace for free. If you do not have internet, swimming and walking will do the trick.
All over the country, back doctors are offering traction therapy for low back pain. The concept is simple. You sit or stand and a device gently pulls on either end of your body. This will supposedly relieve the pressure on the joint and you will be free of back pain. Like the plastic surgeons, the therapy involves multiple sessions for many weeks or months. Each session can cost anywhere from $175-$300 and on average one needs 20-30 sessions. Low back pain is a major health problem and accounts for large number of people being absent from work, being disabled and depressed. So far, no one therapy seems to work for all people with back pain and now we have traction.
Evaluation of current literature indicates that traction is just another scam. It does not work; it provides little or no pain relief and does not reverse your disability. The only people who benefit from traction therapy are the people who sell it- these health care providers are the ones who drive the fancy cars with your hard-earned money. There is not a single well-controlled randomized study that shows that traction is effective for low back pain. Of course, there are some bogus studies from the Orient or those published by the manufacturers, but the results are fraudulent.
If you have back pain and do not want to end up more depressed than what you already are, avoid traction. At least you have money for food now; after traction therapy not only will you still have back pain but you will also go hungry.
