In the care of back pain, there are two general areas of non-invasive treatment: pain control and rehabilitation. In the care of acute back pain, modalities are particularly beneficial in diminishing pain and improving patient mobility. At times, such modality-based treatments can be very effective. However, in most instances, unless the low back is formally rehabilitated, recurrences are common.
Overall, most patients will benefit from modalities (such as massage therapy, heat/ice, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, etc.) in terms of fairly rapid pain control. The most successful care regimens then evaluate and rehabilitate the patient in terms of identified underlying factors that may have predisposed them to the episode in the first place. Such factors include hamstring tightness, loss of mobility of one or more of the joints in the low back, abdominal/back muscular weakness, and/or lifestyle or body mechanic risk factors.
If the patient maintains the exercise regimen provided by the therapist, he/she will be much less likely to suffer recurrent episodes.
