Ahh. No wonder they still do so many spinal fusion surgeries!

I'm linking to an article in the New York Times magazine written by Gary Taubes, entitled, "Do we really know what makes us healthy."  It is a thorough and useful article examining epidemiology.  I've already commented on this article in detail at my newly re-designed NPA Think Tank (shameless self-promotion) so I won't include a lengthy diatribe here.  I will, however, comment that while the article uses the backdrop of hormone replacement therapy to make an argument, I was thinking about low back pain treatment. 

As you read the article, consider the problem of effective treatment for low back pain and the ability of the field of epidemiology to guide us.  To me, low back pain and its many subtleties is  a perfect storm for weak observational analysis and an over-reactive media (and public).  In light of a broad awareness of treatment classifications and physical therapy treatments supported by good research, we are always apt to find people hanging upside down on over-night infomercials and other health professionals treating seemingly every low back pain patient with cold lasers. 

I know we've got some evidence...we just need an outlet...or a lucky epidemiological study!

ERIC