Areas of expertise
- Osteopaths tend to concentrate principally on the assessment and treatment of musculoskeletal complaints, most commonly low back pain !!
- Low back pain per se is very common throughout the adult population in fact according to the morbidity statistics from general practice ( HMSO 1993 )
- 7% of the UK adult population suffer from low back pain and will consult their GP with it in any one year.
- As a result of this, the CSAG produced guidelines for the management of acute low back pain which was last updated in February 1999
- This promoted the use of a diagnostic triage which would then assist in the differential diagnosis between
- Simple back ache (non specific low back pain)
- Nerve root pain
- Serious spinal pathology with red flags for immediate referral and emergency for cauda equina symptoms.
The majority of patients fall into the first category for which the recommendations are:
- drug therapy
- avoid recommending bedrest ( aside discuss why !!!)
- remain active
- consider manipulative treatment (physio /chiropractor/osteopath)
- recommend exercise
[Ref ' Low back pain in the primary care sector'
Outcomes of low back pain in general practice - a prospective study'
BMJ Vol 316 p 1356-59 1998]