A groundbreaking psychological intervention has emerged as the first treatment to deliver substantial, lasting relief for people suffering from chronic lower back pain.

Cognitive Functional Therapy (CFT) has demonstrated unprecedented success in helping patients regain active lives, with improvements persisting for at least three years.

Research published in the Lancet Rheumatology journal reveals that this innovative talking therapy significantly outperforms conventional treatments, which have historically provided only modest, short-lived benefits.

The approach focuses on educating patients and enhancing their activity levels through structured therapeutic sessions.

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Unlike existing interventions, CFT addresses the underlying mechanisms of chronic back pain through psychological techniques.

The comprehensive trial enrolled over 1,000 Australian participants with chronic lower back pain, dividing them into three distinct groups.

One cohort received standard care, another underwent CFT treatment, whilst the final group combined CFT with biofeedback techniques.

Participants receiving CFT attended seven therapeutic sessions across 12 weeks, each lasting between 30 and 60 minutes. An additional booster session was held at 26 weeks.

Standard care patients accessed treatments recommended by their GP practices or selected from local services.

These typically encompassed pain medications, self-management guidance, and encouragement to resume normal activities promptly.

The research team, headed by specialists at Macquarie University in Sydney, tracked participants' progress at regular intervals throughout the study period.

The study's primary outcome measure focused on participants' activity limitations at various stages of the study.

Those who underwent CFT showed marked improvements in their ability to engage in daily activities, with benefits increasing throughout the first year and remaining stable at the three-year mark.

Approximately 300 individuals, averaging 48 years old, completed the full three-year follow-up period. The addition of biofeedback techniques showed no meaningful advantage over CFT alone.

Professor Mark Hancock of Macquarie University stated: "CFT is the first treatment for chronic disabling low back pain with good evidence of large, long-term effects on disability."

The researchers emphasised that their findings represent a breakthrough for millions experiencing debilitating back pain.

"These long-term effects are novel and provide the opportunity to markedly reduce the effect of chronic back pain if the intervention can be widely implemented," the team noted.

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Chronic lower back pain affects both physical and mental well-being, with many sufferers experiencing persistent disability.

Traditional approaches have yielded disappointing results, offering only modest improvements that typically fade over time.

The research team described CFT as "a high-value, low-risk intervention with long-term benefits for patients with persistent, disabling low back pain".

This positions the therapy as a potentially transformative option for healthcare systems seeking effective solutions.