Participants note significant improvement following new back pain treatment trial

A collaborative study by Curtin, Macquarie and Monash Universities took a "whole-person approach" to pain management by helping participants make lifestyle changes aimed at improving social and emotional health.

Almost 500 participants, including people with high levels of disability, took part in the study. The research, which has been published in the medical journal The Lancet found the majority of participants - who had been seeking help for pain for an average of four years, reported "large clinically significant" improvements to their pain following treatment.

The treatment, which has been labelled Cognitive Functional Therapy (CFT), offered personalised coaching sessions to help people make sense of their pain. It also placed a focus on retraining participants to move in ways which reduced their pain and building confidence in certain movements they had been avoiding.

The treatment was delivered in 20 clinics across Perth and Sydney by 18 specially trained physiotherapists.

Lead author Peter Kent said the findings produced compelling evidence supporting the benefits of the new treatment.

"Lower back pain is the leading cause of disability across the globe, contributing to a loss of work productivity and early retirement worldwide," Associate Professor Kent said.

"These exciting results give hope to the millions of people around the world who are disabled by back pain.

He said the study also provided a "clear roadmap" for clinicians, health services and policymakers on treatment for back pain.

The trial involved seven treatment sessions for participants over a 12-week period, followed by a booster session at six months and a series of follow up questionnaires. More than 80 per cent of participants were satisfied with the treatment, which also delivered healthcare and work productivity savings of more than $5000 per person.

To read the full paper click here.