In addition to taking natural supplements such as calcium and vitamin D to help with lower back pain, a researcher is trying to find more treatment options for a problem affecting 40 million Americans.
N. Peter Reeves, a researcher from Michigan State University, is using system science to better understand how the lower back works and is using his formulas to better understand what could be the cause of pain. Reeves hopes these systems will also help physicians understand how to treat their individual patients.
The researcher has been testing cadaver spines and muscle control from live patients, hoping to get a well-rounded idea as to what causes the ailment. He explains that the need for both models is crucial for determining the whole cause.
“The spine is extremely complex; you cannot fully appreciate medical conditions without looking at the big picture,” he said.
Reeves research team is beginning to recruit patients with lower back pain who havent had surgery, so he can examine if there could be possible new treatments.