Complementary Medicine Use in Patients with Low Back or Neck Pain: Results of the 2017 National Health Interview Survey

Objective: Complementary and integrative medicine (CIM), including mind-body medicine (MBM), is a treatment option that has been proved to alleviate symptoms in patients with low back and neck pain.

Methods: Data from the National Center for Health Statistics' National Health Interview Survey 2017 were used to examine prevalence and predictors of MBM use and consultation of CIM practitioners among patients with low back and neck pain in the American adult population.

Results: A weighted total of 81,671,436 participants (33.1%) reported low back and neck pain. Of those, more participants used mantra meditation, mindfulness meditation, spiritual meditation, guided imagery, and progressive relaxation than did participants without low back and neck pain (all P < 0.001). Spiritual meditation was the most popular (12.6%), followed by mindfulness meditation (6.9%) and progressive relaxation (5.4%). Participants with low back and neck pain consulted practitioners of CIM more often than did those without low back and neck pain (P < 0.001). MBM use was predicted by being female, having a higher educational level, being employed, and living in the Western United States. Consultation of practitioners of CIM was predicted by younger age, being female, not being married or living with a partner, having a higher educational level, being employed, living in the Western United States, and being uninsured.

Conclusions: MBM is a popular treatment option for people with low back and neck pain. Practitioners of CIM are also being sought out by people with such complaints. Further research in this direction is relevant.