According to research by the University of Pittsburgh, physical therapy offers a less invasive but equally potent procedure compared to surgery in addressing lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), a common cause of lower backaches and nerve damage among older people.
Lumbar spinal stenosis is the compression of open spaces in the lower region of the spinal column. Symptoms of the condition include a tingling sensation, pinched nerves, and recurrent numbness and weakness of the back and lower extremities. These become more common with age.
According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, an estimated 2.4 million Americans may develop LSS by 2021.
Dr. Anthony Delitto, study author and chair of physical therapy at the University of Pittsburgh's School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, explained that between the two procedures, surgery is considered "riskier" with a 15 percent chance of developing complications, half of which are life-threatening.
Delitto and his colleagues asked 481 patients who consented to surgery if they would be willing to participate in research where they would be selected randomly to continue with the operation or receive physical therapy instead.
Of the total number of patients, 169 agreed to participate in the study: 87 of which were assigned to push through with the surgery while 82 were assigned to undergo physical therapy.
At the beginning of the experiment, the patients were at least 50 years old and able to walk at least a quarter of a mile without difficulty. They also did not have a prior history of medical conditions, such as vascular disease, heart ailments, dementia or cancer. Most of the participants were typically obese and had mildly active to sedentary lifestyles.
Read full article here:http://www.techtimes.com/articles/44626/20150407/best-treatment-for-back-pain-experts-consider-physical-therapy-vs-surgery.htm
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