United Kingdom back pain exercise and manipulation (UK BEAM) randomised trial: cost effectiveness of physical treatments for back pain in primary care

UK BEAM Trial Team. BMJ 2004;329:doi:10.1136/bmj.38282.669225.AE

Back pain is a major economic problem. Before this BEAM study, little evidence existed for the effectiveness of two commonly used treatments—exercise classes and spinal manipulation. The UK BEAM trial also offers evidence for the cost effectiveness of those treatments.

Involving 1,287 participants, this study concluded that spinal manipulation is a cost effective addition to the “best care” provided by standard medical clinics, and that manipulation alone probably gives better value for money than manipulation followed by exercise.

The study concluded that manipulation would still represent good value if the National Health Service needed to purchase manipulation from the private sector (i.e. refer the patients to chiropractors, etc. in private practice).

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