Evidence-based non-medical treatment rather than medical treatment of low back pain with radiculopathy
A new systematic literature review recommends evidence-based non-pharmacological treatment in the form of manual treatment, rehabilitation, and patient education rather than pharmacological treatment of low back pain with radiculopathy.
However, there are exceptions: the literature review does not recommend passive non-pharmacological modalities such as ultrasound, PENS, TENS, and interferential therapy
The aim of the systematic literature review was to identify evidence-based rehabilitation interventions for persons with non-specific low back pain (LBP) with and without radiculopathy and to develop recommendations from high-quality clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) to inform the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Package of Interventions for Rehabilitation (PIR).
Clinical guidelines that dealt with both non- pharmacological and pharmacological treatment of low back pain with or without radiculopathy in adults aged 18 and over were included in the literature review.
To be considered, a form of treatment had to aim to improve the patient's function or everyday life, and forms of treatment that are used by e.g., medical doctors, physiotherapists, chiropractors, osteopaths, and occupational therapists.
The literature review was carried out by a research team consisting of researchers from Canada, Italy, and the USA. Read the scientific article in the link below.
Zaina F, Côté P, Cancelliere C, Di Felice F, Donzelli S, Rauch A, Verville L, Negrini S, Nordin M. A systematic review of Clinical Practice Guidelines for persons with non-specific low back pain with and without radiculopathy: Identification of best evidence for rehabilitation to develop the WHO’s Package of Interventions for Rehabilitation. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2023.
