Listening Time — 18:14
If you're an adult, you have likely experienced back pain. One might assume the health care system follows current guidelines that call for treating back pain conservatively. That means with physical therapy and over-the-counter medication. But, a study from the Journal of the American Medical Association found that back pain is often over-treated. Many people receive referrals to specialists, expensive imaging, and prescription pain medicines they don't need.
Physical therapist Eric Robertson discusses the findings of this study. He describes how the medical community's knowledge of back pain has evolved over the years. For example, it once recommended bed rest. Now it recommends against it. He also provides tips for avoiding back pain in the first place.
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Eric Robertson, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT, board-certified clinical specialist in orthopaedic physical therapy, is an assistant professor of physical therapy at Regis University in Denver, Colorado. He teaches musculoskeletal, pharmacology, and radiology courses. He also serves as faculty in their Fellowship in Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy. Robertson's research explores low back pain in terms of resource use and the link between low back and hip pain. His work has been published in peer-reviewed journals and on popular health websites.
