Are you disabled by chronic back pain? A new study shows how to reduce “chronic back pain with a high-value, low-risk approach based on the best scientific evidence.”

Curtin-Macquarie-Monash University research has revealed that a new treatment has resulted in significant and lasting reductions in pain and related disability among long-term sufferers of chronic back pain

The study, recently published in the esteemed medical journal The Lancet, revealed significant and clinically meaningful improvements in pain intensity and pain-related disability among nearly 500 individuals who had sought relief for their chronic back pain for an average of four years prior to participating in the innovative treatment.

The comprehensive treatment approach not only targeted pain management but also facilitated lifestyle changes geared towards enhancing social and emotional well-being, resulting in substantial healthcare and work productivity savings.

Associate Professor Peter Kent, the lead author and a distinguished faculty member at the Curtin School of Allied Health, hailed the findings as compelling evidence of the treatment’s profound and enduring impact on a “clinically important” level.

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

“These exciting results give hope to the millions of people around the world who are disabled by back pain. It also provides a clear roadmap for clinicians, health services and policymakers on how to reduce the growing burden of chronic back pain with a high-value, low-risk approach based on the best scientific evidence.”

Cognitive Functional Therapy (CFT) is a personalized treatment that includes intensive coaching sessions designed to help chronic back pain sufferers understand their pain, retrain their movements to reduce pain, and gain confidence in previously avoided activities.

The treatment was administered by 18 specially trained physiotherapists in 20 clinics across Perth and Sydney. Participants underwent up to seven sessions over a 12-week period, followed by a booster session at six months, and were followed up with questionnaires for up to 12 months.

Over 80% of the participants reported satisfaction with the treatment. Professor Peter O’Sullivan, a co-author and developer of the treatment, emphasizes that CFT prioritizes the patient’s needs and puts them at the forefront of care.

“This new treatment takes on board the individual characteristics of the person who has been living with chronic back pain by addressing their concerns and movement limitations under the skilled guidance of a trained physiotherapist,” explains Professor O’Sullivan.

“This differs to traditional, more passive approaches – including massage, spinal manipulation, medication and injections – because it puts the person in charge of their condition, helping them to understand the factors contributing to their pain, building control and confidence in their body to get back to valued activities.

“It was particularly rare and thrilling to discover that the significant reduction in pain and distress that these people living with chronic back pain experienced had remained right up to one year after trialling this new treatment.”

Professor Mark Hancock, co-author from Macquarie University, highlighted the expertise of the physiotherapists involved in administering the innovative treatment across Perth and Sydney. These healthcare professionals possessed substantial experience in managing individuals with persistent lower back pain and dedicated five months to specialized training, ensuring the delivery of comprehensive care as outlined by the new treatment.

An important learning from our study was that it took quite a lot of training for physiotherapists to develop the skills and confidence to become competent to deliver the intervention at a high standard, despite the fact that many were already experienced,” adds Professor Hancock. “The training included practice on real patients and receiving feedback from the trainers.” 

Source: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)00441-5

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