Research shows backache benefits of physiotherapy

Good-quality advice from a physiotherapist might be all you need to sort out your bad back, according to a new study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ).

The CSP physiotherapists' union said: "The findings of the study make no suggestion that physiotherapy doesn't work. The researchers have looked at two broad approaches to treating back pain and have found that one-off good quality physiotherapy advice is as effective for people with moderate levels of back pain as 'routine physiotherapy', a year after the interventions.

"However, the patients receiving routine physiotherapy showed consistently bigger improvement in disability and general health, and at 12 months had significantly less 'bodily pain' than those receiving only advice."

The CSP was responding to media reports claiming that the study had found physiotherapy for back pain to be no more effective than simple advice to stay active. The union added: "What the study does suggest is that the CSP is right to be calling for the rapid rollout of patient self-referral schemes, which enable people to gain access to physiotherapy without having to see their GP first."

The study, Randomised controlled trial of physiotherapy compared with advice for low back pain, was published in the BMJ's 25 September issue and can be downloaded from bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/329/7468/708?ehom