For many Americans, finding an effective therapy for back pain is elusive, the Chicago Tribune reports.

A new study comparing acupuncture, massage and self-care found that after one year the massage group came out ahead, using the least amount of medications and spending the least amount of money for subsequent medical care, said Daniel C. Cherkin from the Center for Health Studies in Seattle. Acupuncture was relatively ineffective.

"Therapeutic massage was effective for persistent low-back pain, apparently providing long-lasting benefits," he reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

　　From Healthy.net