Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) to Back Pain

Nonspecific back pain is a vexing complaint that can be difficult to treat, leaving some children and their parents in search of alternative methods to reduce pain. Multiple complementary and alternative approaches have been suggested to treat low back pain. In this chapter, we describe the epidemiology, theory of efficacy, the evidence for, and potential side effects of yoga, Pilates, acupuncture, chiropractic spinal manipulation, cupping, Kinesio taping, and meditation when used to treat back pain. In the adult literature, there are several studies demonstrating non-inferiority or improvement in pain and disability scores using these modalities when compared to the usual treatments of exercise and medication. Generally, the side effects of alternative approaches are minimal. However, in the pediatric population, there is a dearth of evidence about the efficacy of these alternative approaches. In a pediatric patient with back pain, after a thorough evaluation that excludes a serious medical or surgical diagnosis, alternative approaches may be considered.