Acupuncture for back pain. Comments on the 'NICE low back pain guidelines - a big misunderstanding'.

Acupuncture for low back pain.  Comments on the 'NICE low back pain guidelines. 

Recently there has been some controversy as the National Institute for Clinical Excellence in the UK have stopped recommending acupuncture for back pain.  The reasons are complex after review of clinical research.  However, it seems that there were serious flaws in the design of the most recent NICE study, and Mel Koppleman has come up with a detailed analysis of the processes used by NICE to amend their guidelines which removed acupuncture as recommended treatment for lower back pain.

For more on this please see:

http://www.abetterwaytohealth.com/the-nice-low-back-pain-guidelines-a-big-misunderstanding/

For practical purposes Acupuncture still works very well for Low back pain (of course, even better if osteopathy and manipulation can be added as tools in the toolbox). It seems that NICE in the UK have reviewed current research and for complex reasons removed their recommendation of acupuncture for low back pain. This decision is controversial and complex - and Mike Cummings (an academic and medical acupuncturist) has reviewed and responded to this.

Large studies work generically with large populations and statistical number-crunching. There's nothing wrong with this, and indeed Evidenced -based medicine puts every medical intervention, procedure and treatment protocol under scrutiny, as it should.

For examples of this, please see:

http://www.christchurch-osteopathy-acupuncture.co.nz/acupuncture/effectiveness.html

But just remember that we treat 'people' not 'populations', 'individuals' not 'diseases'. This is far more relevant for individual clinicians, be they GPs, acupuncturists, chiropractors, physiotherapists or osteopaths.

Know your patient. Get it right. Do good work - and use safe effective interventions. Acupuncture is definitely one of them. It has stood the test of time (several thousands of years) and modern research will no doubt give differing indications, and probably come round again. It usually does.

Have a look at:

http://www.christchurch-osteopathy-acupuncture.co.nz/acupuncture/scientificBasis.html

Your patients know it works, for them. They keep coming back, and tell their friends (and their GPs). Good enough.

This week is National (NZ) Osteopathy Awareness week (17-23 April)

Just a reminder that this week is National  (NZ) Osteopathy Awareness week  (17-23 April), so you may notice media information about Osteopathy this week.

Below is one example, that suggests that Osteopathy may help relieve the symptoms of migraines, arthritis, sports and occupational injuries, and can help with developmental problems in children (e.g. scoliosis) :

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/capital-life/78134566/day-at-the-office-osteopaths--theyve-got-your-back

To read more about the history and principal of Osteopathy, you could also look at:

http://www.christchurch-osteopathy-acupuncture.co.nz/osteopathy/principles.html

Osteopathy Awareness week is 17-23 April. Open Saturdays, and also Anzac weekend (Saturday 23 April) for Osteopathy and Acupuncture

Osteopathy Awareness week is 17-23 April.

Also a reminder that for Osteopathy and Acupuncture we are open Saturdays, and also Anzac weekend (Saturday 23 April) for Osteopathy and Acupuncture.

To book either phone 03 980 2425 or book online at www.christchurch-osteopathy-acupuncture.co.nz

Saturdays for Osteopathy and Acupuncture: open on 02/04 and 16/04. For bookings: www.christchurch-osteopathy-acupuncture.co.nz

Just to let everybody know that the clinic is also open tomorrow -  Saturday 2nd April for Osteopathy and Acupuncture.  We will not be open the following Saturday (9th April) as I am doing a course that weekend.  The clinic will also be open on Saturday 16th April, but not on Saturday 23rd (Anzac weekend).

There is also good availability on most weekdays, including evening after-hours appointments.  To book, either phone 03 980 2425, or book online at www.christchurch-osteopathy-acupuncture.co.nz

Clinic open Saturdays for Osteopathy and Acupuncture (After-hours Evening appointments are also available) www.christchurch-osteopathy-acupuncture.co.nz

Just a reminder that the clinic is open on Saturdays, if you (or a family member) would like any Osteopathy (or Acupuncture) and find it hard to get in during the week (or may live some distance from Christchurch).

There are also after-hours evening Osteopathy / Acupuncture appointments available.

To book, you can book online (at www.christchurch-osteopathy-acupuncture.co.nz) or phone 03 980 2425

Osteopathy and Acupuncture, appointments available this week. After-hours (evenings / Saturday) Osteopathy and /or Acupuncture appointments are also available.

If you would like an appointment for Osteopathy and/or Acupuncture, there is good availability this week, including evening Osteopathy / Acupuncture appointments, and Saturdays.  To book either phone 03 980 2425 or 021 0436282, or book your own appointment online at www.christchurch-osteopathy-acupuncture.co.nz

clinic fully open again this week for Osteopathy and Acupuncture

Some people tried to contact me on Friday (19/02) when I was away in Sydney attending the Breathworks-Mindfulness teachers conference weekend.  Should you need an appointment for either Osteopathy or Acupuncture, then the clinic is fully open this week, and there are Osteopathy and Acupuncture appointments available, including evening after-hours appointments, and also Saturday.

To book, either phone 03 980 2425  (or 021 043 6282) or you can book online at:  www.christchurch-osteopathy-acupuncture.co.nz