Low back strengthening for the prevention and treatment of low back pain.

“Formerly, it was taught that inactivity was the way to go for back patients-heat packs and bed rest were recommended, but this approach is no good. The major trend now is towards treating back injuries, particularly industrial back injuries, like sport injuries – aggressively.” Dr. Keane, who was taught the “old way” at medical school, has become one of the country’s strongest advocates of functional restoration.

“One of the reasons I volunteered and was asked to speak on this topic is because there are still many physicians who are proponents of the inactive therapy method.” According to Dr. Keane, the results at his clinic are excellent, and there is enough confirming data generated by other studies to support the active, functional approach as far superior to the inactive approach.

“Functional restoration focuses on measurable gains, things that can be objectively tested,” Dr. Keane explained. The focus on measurable gains, rather than on how a patient feels, is one of the most crucial differences between active and passive therapy. “In the industrial world, people who do not make progress towards recovery are pushed out. ” It is only through quantitative proof that insurance companies, employers, and patients can concretely measure progress and functioning capacity, rehabilitation experts assert.