Treatment
What works, what is neutral, and what to stop paying for.
4 guides · updated 4 Oct 2026 · every claim sourced
Exercise therapy
Exercise is the most consistently supported treatment for back and neck pain. What kinds work, how much, how long it takes, and how to start when it hurts.
2 min read · Strong evidenceOverviewWhat works for back pain
Which back pain treatments have evidence and which do not: exercise and staying active first, short-term medication with care, and what to avoid.
3 min read · Strong evidenceMore in Treatment
Strength training for the back
Strength training reduces neck pain in trials, and little and often works. How much you need, whether supervision matters, and why sticking with it counts.
2 min readMythDo posture correctors work?
Do posture correctors work? Straps hold you upright while worn, but lasting change is unproven. When medical braces help, and what works better.
3 min readAbout this topic
Back and neck pain treatments vary widely in how well they work. This section ranks them by evidence, using the Lancet back pain series, the NICE guideline and systematic reviews. Exercise, education and staying active come first and have the strongest support. Strength training reduces neck pain in desk workers, and short sessions are enough. Medication has a limited, short-term role, and many popular options, from corsets and traction to routine scans, have little or no benefit. The articles explain what each treatment involves, how much difference it makes, how long it takes and when to see a specialist, and they say plainly where the evidence is thin or where guidelines have changed.
- Strong consistent results from trials and reviews
- Moderate good studies, some gaps
- Limited few or small studies
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