The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point
  • About this web log

    This blog ran from 2006 to 2016 and was intended as an objective and dispassionate source of information on the latest CAM research. Since my background is in pharmacy and allopathic medicine, I view all CAM as advancing through the development pipeline to eventually become integrated into mainstream medical practice. Some will succeed while others fail. But all are treated fairly here.

  • About the author

    John Russo, Jr., PharmD, is president of The MedCom Resource, Inc. Previously, he was senior vice president of medical communications at www.Vicus.com, a complementary and alternative medicine website.

  • Common sense considerations

    The material on this weblog is for informational purposes. It is not medical advice or counsel. Be smart, consult your health professional before using CAM.

  • Recent Posts

  • Recent Comments

    CAM options for acute low back pain

    Dr. Scott Kinkade from University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas has reviewed all the options in American Family Physician.

    Here’s a summary of his conclusions as they relate to CAM.

    • Acupuncture: Limited evidence
    • Back exercises: Not helpful
    • Bed rest: No benefit
    • Heat or ice: Minimal evidence for cold therapy, while heat reduces pain and increases function
    • Manipulation: Evidence for short-term improvement in pain
    • Massage: Insufficient evidence
    • Patient education booklets: Small additional benefits compared to physical therapy and chiropractic care
    • Physical therapy: The McKenzie method is superior to other treatments regarding short-term pain relief and disability

    Finally, he says, “There is strong evidence that several psychosocial factors correlate with the development of chronic back pain. However, strategies aimed at screening for and addressing these risk factors have not been well studied.”

    5/6/07 11:40 JR

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