Car maker goes holistic to cure back pain

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Feb. 18 (UPI) -- An automobile manufacturer has found providing a holistic approach to treating back pain in its U.S. workers lowers its healthcare costs.

More than half of the employees involved in the pilot program of Chrysler LLC, Health Alliance Plan, a Detroit-based nonprofit health plan, and the Henry Ford Medical Group provider network reported their back pain had been eliminated.

The "We've Got Your Back" program involved 200 employees randomized to either intervention or an untreated control group. Their health status was measured at the start, middle and end of the five-month project period.

The treatment program combined the convenience of the workplace and advantages of a group setting with a holistic medical approach using both complementary and alternative methods, the Health Alliance Plan said in a statement.

The program included guided relaxation and somatic movement reduction -- teaching the brain to maintain nerve and muscle system control and release over-contracted muscles.

Chronic back pain was eliminated in 55 percent of employees in the treatment group as well as significant reductions in disability, stress, sleep problems and depression symptoms. Zero improvement was reported in the control group.