A systematic review and meta-analysis of 301 placebo-controlled randomized trials found that only about 10% of nonsurgical and noninterventional treatments for low back pain provide small but statistically significant analgesic benefits beyond placebo effects. The reductions in pain intensity were modest, raising uncertainty about their clinical significance. The study examined both acute and chronic low back pain treatments, assessing nonpharmacological and pharmacological interventions. It highlighted the limited efficacy of many treatments for acute and chronic low back pain and emphasized the need for high-quality, placebo-controlled trials to address the remaining uncertainty in treatment efficacy.

Source: BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine