Ask a Researcher: Spine pain expert Dr. Steven Passmore explains alternate care methods for back pain.
In the Ask A... series, experts from across the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management will answer your questions about sports, recreation, kinesiology, community development and more.
A: It really depends on how your back pain came about. If you were in a traumatic accident, or if you can't feel your legs, or if you have trouble going to the washroom. Those are reasons to visit the emergency department. But if you are just gardening, or you were just doing some exercise and you feel some aches and pains in your back, well, those are things that can be taken care of conservatively.
If your pain is from more regular activites, you can go and see a chiropractor or a physiotherapist. Our research project that we're doing right now at the Health Sciences Center Winnipeg is looking at what happened, how do we better treat those folks, and how do we take away barriers to access to care. So, how can someone go see a chiropractor or a physiotherapist and not have to pay out of pocket to do it, but be able to be treated and see if your pain responds to that kind of care. That you're not taking up space in the emergency department unless it's truly a medical emergency.
Dr. Steven Passmore's research interests include conservative spine care implementation and applying motor behaviour principles to elite athlete performance (curling), clinical populations (spine musculoskeletal health), and perceptual factors influencing spinal manipulation delivery. He co-leads a Health Canada funded project serving the spine care needs of the Pimicikamak people in Cross Lake, Manitoba.
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