Table 3Summary table of studies evaluating trends in utilization of CAM therapies over time for persons with combined neck and back pain

Author
Year
Country
Sample Size
Time-Frame (Years and Dates)
Description of Type of PainCAM TherapyUtilization Over TimeOther Therapy Use
Studies conducted in the United States
Eisenberg5
1998
U.S.
T1 (1990)
n = 1, 539
T2 (1997)
n = 2, 055
Back pain (both 1990 and 1997), Neck pain (1997)Relaxation techniques, herbal medicine, massage therapy, chiropractic care, megavitamins, self-help groups, imagery techniques, commercial diet, folk remedies, lifestyle diet, energy healing, homeopathy, hypnosis, biofeedback, acupuncture, and prayer/spiritual healingFor BACK problems:
T1: 19.9% reported back problems
35.9% of those used alternative therapy for back pain (BP), 19.5% saw alternative practitioner

COMPLEMENTARY: 36.1% saw M.D. and used alternative therapy for BP, 23% saw M.D. and alternative practitioner for BP

T2: 24% reported back problems
47.6% used alternative therapy for back pain, 30.1% saw alternative practitioner

COMPLEMENTARY: 58.8% saw M.D. and used alternative therapy for BP, 39.1% saw M.D. and alternative practitioner for BP

For NECK problems:
T2: 12.1% reported neck problems
57% used alternative therapy for BP, 37.5% saw alternative practitioner for BP, 66.6% saw M.D. and used alternative therapy for BP, 47.5% saw M.D. and alternative practitioner for BP

Chiropractic therapy and massage were most commonly used therapies in 1997
NA
Studies conducted outside the U.S.
Esmail117
2007
Canada
2006 followup of the 1997 study n = 2,000Self-reported back or neck problemsChiropractic care, massage, relaxation techniques, prayer/spiritual practice, acupuncture, yoga, herbal therapies, special diet programs, energy healing, naturopathy, homeopathy, folk remedies, self-help group, aromatherapy, imagery techniques, lifestyle diet, spiritual or religious healing by others, hypnosis, osteopathy, high dose/mega vitamins, biofeedback, chelationPast 12 months
back or neck problems treated with the following:
chiropractic care 61%
massage 39%
relaxation techniques 10%
prayer/spiritual practice 5%
acupuncture 30%
yoga 14%
energy healing 16%

28% reported having back or neck problems (second most common medical condition reported)
71% used alternative therapy
47% saw CAM provider
3 most commonly therapies: massage therapies, chiropractic care, and prayer
NA
Hartvigsen123
2003
Denmark
T1 (1962)
n = 1,118
T2 (1999)
n = 1,897
Primary complaint
LBP
LBP and sciatica
Neck pain
Neck and arm pain
ChiropractorT1:
LBP alone: 33%
LBP and sciatica: 17%
Neck pain: 6%
Neck and arm pain: 6%

T2:
LBP alone: 40.7%
LBP and sciatica: 8.8%
Neck pain: 9.2%
Neck and arm pain: 6.2%
Thoracic spine: 7.0%
Thoracic spine and chest/upper extremity: 2.4%
NA

Abbreviations: NR = not reported; T1 = Time 1; T2 = Time 2

From: 3, Results

Cover of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Back Pain Utilization Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Back Pain Utilization Report.
Evidence Reports/Technology Assessments, No. 177.
Santaguida PL, Gross A, Busse J, et al.

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