Comparative review of rehabilitative professions assisting patients with lower back pain in South Africa

Abstract

Biokinetics is the youngest profession to emerge among the South African rehabilitative fraternity to assist with the management of lower back pain. This discipline is borne out of the philosophy “Exercise is Medicine” and primarily focuses on final phase rehabilitation, applying inter alia cardiorespiratory endurance, range of motion and strengthening exercises. The aim of this communication is to describe some of the views of the profession of Biokinetics, how it may assist patients to manage their lower back pain and its position in the multidisciplinary South African rehabilitative fraternity including: Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Chiropractic Therapy.

Keywords: Lower back pain; Biokinetics; Exercises; Rehabilitation.