Clinical Considerations: CAM and Low Back Pain

Additional Clinical Considerations: CAM for LBP

When a health care provider considers treatment options for a patient with LBP, other factors play a part as well, such as clinical experience and the patient's condition, preferences, and expectations. Consider the following additional tips on CAM:

1. Ask your patients about CAM. Research has found that most patients do not disclose CAM use to their health care providers. Let them know they can discuss any therapy with you that they are interested in or are using.

2. Evidence-based information for you and your patient is available from NCCAM as well as other resources listed below. Visit the NCCAM Web site for additional links.

3. When making referrals to other practitioners, find out about their training, and their licensing or certification, if applicable. Ask specifically about the nature and length of their experience in treating LBP.

Health care providers of all types may be involved in the care of patients with LBP. Open and clear communication between providers helps ensure coordinated and safe care.
"There is much more to learn about the effectiveness and safety of CAM therapies for chronic LBP and other chronic pain conditions," says Dr. Briggs. "Building a better and clearer evidence base in these areas, and sharing reliable information, are priorities for NCCAM."

March, 2009 NIH Newsletter