Spinal manipulation therapy isn’t routinely recommended as the initial treatment for low back pain, but a research review suggests this approach may work as well as interventions that doctors typically prescribe first.

The treatment eases lower back pain as much as exercise, NSAIDs and painkillers and appeared better for improving short-term function, the review shows. 

“At the moment, spinal manipulation is considered a second-line or adjunctive treatment option in international guidelines,” says lead study author Dr Sidney Rubinstein (PhD) of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

“These results would suggest that spinal manipulation is certainly on par with these other recommended therapies and can be considered an option.”