If you're an older adult living with chronic back or neck pain, you know how hard it can be to find lasting relief. A new review of the research suggests that a fresh approach might help.
The review looked at function-oriented, neuroscience-based strategies. These include Pain Neuroscience Education (teaching people how pain works), structured exercise, psychological therapies, manual therapy, and newer options like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections and neuromodulation (using magnetic or electrical stimulation on the brain).
Across many studies, these approaches improved pain and function in older adults. The review proposes a tiered model that starts with simple, low-cost options and moves to more advanced treatments if needed. This could make care more accessible and affordable worldwide.
However, the evidence is not all strong. The quality of studies varied, and for some treatments like biologic injections and neuromodulation, more robust trials are needed. So while the findings are promising, they are not yet definitive. Always talk to your doctor before trying a new treatment.
