Adopting a healthier lifestyle could help manage lower back pain

By Free Republic | Created at 2025-01-17 04:46:11 | Updated at 2025-01-21 03:28:36 3 days ago

Adopting a healthier lifestyle could help manage lower back pain
Medical Xpress / University of Sydney / JAMA Network Open ^ | Jan. 13, 2025 | Emma Mudd et al

Posted on 01/16/2025 8:38:11 PM PST by ConservativeMind

Low back pain is a leading cause of disability worldwide with many treatments, such as medication, often failing to provide lasting relief. Researchers have uncovered a possible solution. Their study found integrating lifestyle support into back pain care could reduce disability and enhance quality of life.

The randomized controlled trial included 346 participants from across Australia, all of whom had chronic low back pain and at least one lifestyle risk factor, such as obesity, poor diet, sedentary habits, or smoking. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: the "Healthy Lifestyle Program (HeLP)" or standard guideline-based physiotherapy care for managing their low back pain.

The HeLP participants received support from physiotherapists, dietitians and telephone health coaches who helped them work out which lifestyle habits might be influencing their back pain, such as weight, inactivity, poor diet, poor sleep, smoking or excessive alcohol use. They were then provided evidence-based advice over a six-month period to help address the lifestyle challenge.

The approach showed several benefits compared to standard care, including reduced disability, with participants scoring an average of 1.3 points lower on the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (higher scores indicate greater disability). HeLP participants also lost an average of 1.6 kg more than the control group.

"Increasing numbers of studies have shown that pathologies like bulging disks and joint degeneration are rarely the cause of long-term back pain," said Professor Williams. "The problem is, few people are told this, and even fewer are given support to focus on the things that influence long-term pain and disability. Too many people are referred for surgery or prescribed medications that don't help—and may even lead to more harm."

The study underscores the need for a shift in the treatment of back pain care, away from pills and procedures towards addressing the lifestyle factors.

(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...

TOPICS: Health/Medicine
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The Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire is a 24 point scale, and participants reduced their disability level 1.3 points.

On a different note, I can say a friend who had back pain he rated at a “10” fall down to a “3” after taking UC-II Type 2 collagen for three weeks. I and my wife both use it, too.

It is a very tiny amount of undenatured Type 2 collagen that you take before bed. It seems to work like an allergy reduction technique, as your body learns that any break down in Type 2 collagen migrating into the bloodstream is not a enemy, but a friendly substance. Type 2 collagen makes up most of our cartilage and it rarely is in contact with our blood supply.

My wife and I also take two other Type 2 collagens with studies also behind them (BioCell and Fortigel). I encourage anyone to try each of these, if having back or joint pain from non-rheumatoid causes.

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2 posted on 01/16/2025 8:38:51 PM PST by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)

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