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The University of Southampton
Psychology

What is the best way to relieve back pain?

Published: 9 September 2016
Investigating back pain relief
Why do some patients benefit from complementary therapies for back pain?

A new study is taking place to evaluate why some patients benefit from complementary therapies more than others.

Acupuncture, osteopathy and physiotherapy are all popular therapies for back pain. However, research is increasingly showing that so-called psycho-social factors also play a part in their effectiveness.

In the national study, lead researcher Dr Felicity Bishop, from the University of Southampton, is investigating whether factors such as the therapeutic relationship and the clinical environment play an important part in relieving pain.

For example, if a person believes in advance that a therapy is going to work, and if they establish a rapport with the practitioner, they may be more likely to benefit from the consultation than if they don’t believe that the therapy works, and they don’t like the practitioner.

The project also aims to find out what makes each of these treatments unique and how practitioners can make their treatments even more effective for future patients.

“The results will suggest how psychological, social and clinical factors are related to outcomes from acupuncture, osteopathy and physiotherapy,” explained Dr Bishop. “This project will also improve our general understanding of pain and help us to improve treatment outcomes for patients.”

The study is funded by the charity, Arthritis Research UK, and is currently recruiting patients who are receiving acupuncture, osteopathy or physiotherapy for back pain.

Participants will be asked to fill in in a series of questionnaires to find out what they think about acupuncture and their acupuncturist after their first appointment, then again two weeks and three months later. Some will also be asked for consent to audio-record a consultation.

The following clinics are taking part in the study (alphabetical order by county):

  • Charlotte Johnston - Totnes, Devon. Charlotte Johnston 07910 453794
  • Dartmoor Acupuncture Clinic - Newton Abbot, Devon. Davide Brady-Picone 01647 432549
  • Clinic No 3, The Anchor Centre - Kingsbridge, Devon. Cornelia Davies 01548 550251
  • People's Acupuncture Project - Exeter, Devon. Eleanor Breen 07834 160906
  • People's Acupuncture Project - Exeter, Devon. Pippa Brown 07444 718395
  • Torbay Acupuncture Centre - Torquay, Devon. Rachel Geary 01803 414988
  • Graeme McCracken - Moretonhampstead, Devon. Graeme McCracken 01647 441075
  • Tom Hirons - Moretonhampstead, Devon. Tom Hirons 07800 906223
  • Clare Mulligan - Moretonhampstead, Devon. Clare Mulligan 07553 982175
  • Wimborne Chinese Medicine Centre - Wimborne, Dorset. Justin Hextall 01202 889897
  • Monica's Chinese Clinic - Eastbourne, East Sussex. Monica Huang 07872 311688
  • The Tree of Life Centre - Hove, East Sussex. Bradley Carr 07879 606587
  • Ming Chen Clinics -  Edinburgh. Ming Chen Robertson 01315 547888
  • Natural Health - Swansea, Glamorgan. Alex Wood 07812 702382
  • Gwenan Evans - Penarth, Glamorgan. Gwenan Evans 07816 878117
  • Natural Health - Swansea, Glamorgan. Clair Fuller-Rowell 07836 360651
  • Paula Wilson, c/o Health Rediscovered - Glasgow. Paula Wilson 07964 544110
  • David Smyth - Ruardean, Gloucestershire. David Smyth 01594 860169
  • The Treatment Room - London, Greater London. Jane Wilson 0207 426 5129
  • Deborah Ricketts - London, Greater London. Deborah Ricketts 07951 136176
  • London Acupuncture & Osteopathy Clinic Caterham, Greater London Angelo D'Alberto 07900 802087
  • Equilibrium Acupuncture London Greater London Jane Smith 07733 001098
  • Juliet Burns London Greater London Juliet Burns 07931 777868
  • Birchall and Haydock Pharmacy West Meon Hampshire Julie Dakin 01730 828139
  • Rachal Buller Tring Hertfordshire Rachal Buller 07535 947474
  • Naomi Smith, Bishop Stortford, Hertfordshire Naomi Smith 07886 091899
  • Phillip Parker Hitchin Hertfordshire Phillip Parker 01462 440096
  • Dingwall Complementary Health Ltd Dingwall Highland Juliette Lowe 07812 702382 /01345 884440
  • Diana Grogan Blackburn Lancashire Diana Grogan 07885 111080
  • Allerton Health Centre, Liverpool Lancashire Lynne Grant 07766 431364/ 0151 7345909
  • Remedy Centre for Health -  Preston, Lancashire. Catherine Swales 01772 761166
  • Windyridge - Preston, Lancashire. Anna Krypczyk 07855 608732
  • Paige White, Lincoln, Lincolnshire. Paige White 07788 842820
  • Southwell Acupuncture Clinic - Southwell, Nottinghamshire. Hannah Townsend 01636 816156
  • Chinese Medical Centre - Nottingham, Nottinghamshire. Wenhua Ou 07877 225185
  • The Treatment Space - 7/8 Sum Studios Sheffield South, Yorkshire. Kat Love 07904 953304
  • Upper Ballaird Farm - Balfron, Stirlingshire. Linda Miller 07799 410099
  • Southwell Acupuncture Clinic - Bedworth, Warwickshire. Rebecca Richards 07596 986789
  • Rhona Mitchell - Chichester, West Sussex. Rhona Mitchell 07771 595449
  • Brighton Health and Wellbeing Centre -  Hove, West Sussex. Chris Dance 01273 712181
  • Joanna Clare Cook - Malvern, Worcestershire. Joanna Clare Cook 07901 953546
  • York Clinic - York, Yorkshire. Debbie Priestley 01904 709688
  • The Wellbeing Centre - York, Yorkshire. Jane Marsh 07909 075045

People interested in taking part should contact the acupuncturist to find out more. Sessions will remain at the clinic’s normal prices.

 

 

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