Study Finds That Lower Back Pain Subsides Itself Over Time, Physical Exercising Just 'Helps'

A latest U.S. study suggests that opting for physical therapy right at the start of the low back pain might help provide relief. However, the therapy might be of a little help over a longer period of time.

The researchers at the University of Utah studied a group of 200 people who had recently developed signs of lower back pain. At the start of the treatment, the team randomly assigned either physical therapy or no treatment to the subject population and noted the improvement in their condition over a period of time.

Although the patients, who were assigned a physical therapy, showed improvement in pain during the first three months, the researchers did not notice any significant improvement in the condition of both the groups by the end of the first year of treatment.

"The average amount of improvement over 100 patients was small," said study co-author Julie Fritz, in a statement. "The difference between the improvement that comes with time and the improvement that comes to therapy is not a huge difference."

The researchers concluded that letting back pain take its own course over a period of time can help patients get rid of it. Fritz said that most of the cases of back pain fade away with time by itself since there is nothing serious or permanently wrong with the patient.

Around two to five percent of all doctor visits in the U.S. are related to the cases of back pain. Nearly $86 billion is spent yearly in the management of the condition.

The complete details of the study have been published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.