A new evidence review found that many treatments for lower back pain are ineffective, and only a few have been shown to be moderately effective in treating short-term pain.
The review analyzed findings from 301 clinical trials examining 56 treatments or treatment combinations. Researchers concluded that only painkillers like aspirin or ibuprofen (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) had moderate effectiveness in treating short-term lower back pain.
Other treatments that may help long-term low back pain include exercise, spinal manipulation, taping, antidepressants, and warming creams containing ingredients like capsaicin. However, even these treatments showed only small effects.
Only 10% of treatments for low back pain were found to have supporting medical evidence, and most provided little relief compared to a placebo. Researchers are calling for more high-quality studies to better understand the effectiveness of treatments.
In the meantime, patients with back pain should consult their doctor to discuss available options and find what works best for them.
Source: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2025-03-21/not-much-works-to-soothe-low-back-pain-study-says