ER back pain study: adding physio cuts drug use and boosts satisfaction

This study looked at whether adding physiotherapy—like manual therapy, TENS, and exercises—to standard pain medication helps people with sudden low back spasms in the emergency department. Researchers reviewed records of 150 adults treated between January and June 2024, comparing those who got only drugs to those who also received physiotherapy. The goal was to see if the physio group had less pain, used fewer medications, felt more satisfied, and were less likely to return to the ER within 8 weeks.