Studying Integrative Medicine Services for Low Back Pain
Faculty in the Section of General Internal Medicine recently published the article “Nonpharmacologic Back Pain Treatment Use and Associated Patient Reported Outcomes in US-Based Integrative Medicine Clinics” in Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health. Dr. Eric Roseen, Assistant Professor and a chiropractic physician in the primary care clinic, and Dr. Emily Hurstak, Assistant Professor and the Medical Director of the Office Based Addiction Treatment Program (OBAT), co-authored the article.
The prospective cohort study examined the use and effectiveness of integrative medicine services for low back pain in internal medicine clinics, including acupuncture, chiropractic care, physical therapy, and massage. While improvements on clinical outcomes were relatively small, the study highlights the need for additional multi-site studies to explore optimal implementation approaches.
Dr. Roseen’s research on integrative medicine and the effectiveness of nonpharmacologic therapies for low back pain has aimed to provide evidence to inform policies that influence how musculoskeletal pain is managed in primary care settings. He is currently principal investigator on Improving Access to Chiropractic Care for Low Back Pain in Underserved Primary Care Settings: Development and Evaluation of a Multi-level Implementation Strategy.
Dr. Hurstak has focused her research on improving the understanding and care of patients with co-morbid substance use disorders and chronic pain. In addition to her role as the Medical Director of OBAT, Dr. Hurstak is the Medical Director for the Grayken Center for Addiction Training and Technical Assistance’s Substance Use Disorder Care Continuum ECHO. She also specializes in medical acupuncture.