A study has found that getting immediate treatment for recurring low back pain from a physiotherapist can help reduce problems by Tanya Thomas on MedIndia The study from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden said given that long-term pain often requires extensive treatment, it is important that the pain be treated at an early stage. “I wanted to find out whether patients’ low back pain could be alleviated in the long run if primary care clinics could offer examinations and treatment by a physiotherapist without any delay in the form of a doctor’s referral or waiting list,” Lena Nordeman, a registered physiotherapist and researcher at the Sahlgrenska Academy, said. As part of her thesis, she therefore carried out a study in a same-day appointment model with the option of going straight to a physiotherapist, with or without a referral from a doctor. The effect of receiving an examination and treatment within 48 hours was subsequently evaluated compared to being on a waiting list for four weeks before receiving the same treatment. 60 patients with low back pain for 3-12 weeks took part in the study, which was carried out in primary health care in Sodra Alvsborg, south-west Sweden. “We saw that both groups improved after the treatment ended,” Nordeman said. “The group that had been given early access to an examination and individualised treatment maintained their improvement after six months, while the group that had been held on a waiting list were more likely to suffer with recurring back pain,” she revealed.  ]]>

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