The prevalence of naturopathic medicine in the treatment of patients with chronic low back pain at the BCOM clinic.
Item
- Title
- The prevalence of naturopathic medicine in the treatment of patients with chronic low back pain at the BCOM clinic.
- Author(s)
- Howe, Henry
- Abstract
- IntroductionChronic low back pain effects 632 million people per year and has large economic consequences. Management of the condition has historically centred on modifying physical findings, an approach that has had varying outcomes. Findings on functional MRI indicate many non-physical adaptations in chronic pain, evidence that supports the rationale for Biopsychosocial treatment. Such treatments have been examined in the literature and have shown favourable treatment outcomes in this group of patients. Naturopathy targets the modification of behavioural and environmental factors and may be an effective form of treatment in this group of patients. MethodsA retrospective, qualitative and quantitative study using thirty-three archived case histories from the BCOM Clinic were examined. Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores at consultation and discharge were recorded, and screened for Naturopathic factors (1) exercise, (2) hydrotherapy, (3) dietary advice and (4) stress management. Seven were removed due to incomplete sets of data, leaving twenty-seven for analysis. ResultsMean VAS at consultation:6.73cm (±2.25cm), at discharge:3.57cm (±3.22cm) and VAS difference: 3.15cm (±3.22cm), showing statistical improvement (P<0.001). A Mann-Whitney Rank Sum Test revealed a statistically significant decrease in VAS from consultation to discharge (P = <0.001), 3.15cm improvement (±3.79cm). The following prevalence was seen in Naturopathic factors: (1) exercise 84.1%, (2) hydrotherapy 65.4%, (3) dietary advice 23.1%, (4) stress management 0.0%. The study found that student-practitioners used Naturopathic factors in this group of patients (P0.832). ConclusionPatients who attend the BCOM Clinic with chronic low back pain appear to benefit from treatment. Student-practitioners use Naturopathic factors in the treatment of chronic low back pain however there was no correlation between exposure to these factors and more favourable outcomes. No practitioners used stress management or stated stress as a maintaining factor in the twenty-seven case histories examined in this study.
- presented at
- British College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Date Accepted
- 2015
- Date Submitted
- 13.11.2018 12:22:17
- Type
- osteo_thesis
- Language
- English
- Number of pages
- 17
- Submitted by:
- 4457
- Pub-Identifier
- 16300
- Inst-Identifier
- 1076
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Howe, Henry, “The prevalence of naturopathic medicine in the treatment of patients with chronic low back pain at the BCOM clinic.”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 4, 2024, https://www.osteopathicresearch.com/s/orw/item/2047