| Summary: | Aim The aim of the report was to evaluate the effects of preventive measures in cases of acute pain in the back and neck, i.e. treatment intended to prevent the persistence of pain as a chronic condition. The effects were to be evaluated at least three months after completion of treatment. The methods were evaluated from medical, economic and ethical perspectives. Conclusions1. More studies, using appropriate, rigorous scientific methods, are needed to determine whether measures for treating acute back or neck pain are effective in preventing the development of a persistent, disabling condition. The available studies compare various combinations of treatment in such a way that it is unclear which measures actually prevent the development of a chronic condition. If new research is to contribute to a knowledge base of scientific support, indicating which methods are effective, it is necessary that earlier research, to a greater extent than today, is used as a basis for systematically defining knowledge gaps and identifying the need for studies which replicate earlier results.2. It is not possible to determine which of the methods applied today by physiotherapists, chiropractors or naprapaths are most effective in preventing episodes of acute back and neck pain from becoming chronic conditions. The available research gives no information as to how current treatment routines could be improved or whether the results support increasing or reducing use of the methods currently applied in the healthcare system
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