And, since 40 million American adults experience severe pain in any given year-pain that may not be fully relieved by medications-why not put a different pain plan into effect, sans the scary consequences?
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In the review, acupuncture and yoga were found to be treating back pain effectively, while a combo of acupuncture and tai chi, a form of Chinese martial art, was best for the osteoarthritis of the knee.
“We don’t believe these approaches will be the [entire answer], but may be used as an adjunct to help reduce the reliance on opioid medications and associated side effects”, said lead author Richard Nahin, Lead Epidemiologist at National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The team divided the findings into effective treatments and non-effective treatments; a method was considered as positive for patients when it relieved pain and improved performance and functions over another group of patients.
The studies, which were performed over the last 50 years, were on therapies such as acupuncture, massage therapy, relaxation exercises and yoga.
Researchers reviewed 105 USA -based clinical trials from the past 50 years. Before, we lacked a robust evidence base to guide recommendations on complementary approaches as practiced and available in the United States, he adds.
“National surveys going back more than 25 years have consistently found that these complementary approaches are used by about 30 percent to 40 percent of the USA public in a given year”, affirmed Nahin. Relaxation techniques helped with headaches including migraines.
A study found that yoga, acupuncture, massage therapy and other complementary healthcare approaches can help in managing serious and chronic pain.
Weaker evidences also suggest that spinal manipulation, massage therapy and osteopathic manipulation may help relieve back pain and tai chi and relaxation approaches could benefit patients with fibromyalgia. According to the report published in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings, it was observed that no-drug health techniques provide reasonable relief to people combined with or without prescription drugs.
“Our goal for this study was to provide relevant, high-quality information for primary care providers and for patients who suffer from chronic pain”.
“These data can equip providers and patients with the information they need to have informed conversations regarding non-drug approaches for treatment of specific pain conditions”, said Shurtleff.
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The major conditions that were the subject of the study were back and neck pain, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and severe headaches and migraines.
