More than 80% of back pain has unknown causes *1. This was the most surprising fact I discovered after starting my research on back pain. Abnormalities are often not even found when examining the bones and muscles of patients complaining of back pain, while conversely, some people may have abnormalities in their bones or muscles revealed by X-rays or CT scans, yet they experience no pain. It remains to this day, a total mystery. For this reason, in medicine back pain with unknown causes is referred to as “non-specific low back pain.”

The combination of an unclear cause of pain, the lack of objective ways to measure the severity of the symptoms, as well as vague diagnosis methods, make it very difficult to assess effective treatment.

I find it quite troubling…

In recent years, fascia has attracted a lot of attention. Fascia is a complex membrane made of collagen that envelops structures at all levels of the body, from muscle fibers within muscles to the muscles themselves, nerves, blood vessels, and organs, thus shaping our body. It has also been discovered that fascia contains nerves *2. This suggests that fascia could be the cause of pain.

For instance, in cases of patients with non-specific low back pain, it has been found that the movement of the thoracolumbar fascia — which is the fascia of the lower back — is worse than in healthy individuals *3. Researchers are beginning to think that the restricted movement of the fascia may stimulate the nerves within the fascia, leading to pain. This is one reason I believe my fascia treatment method is effective for back pain.

Before becoming a therapist, I was a medical device engineer developing ultrasound diagnostic equipment. My dream was to apply my knowledge of ultrasounds to clarifying the function of fascia and leading to the development of ultrasound examination methods, which would enable the diagnosis of back pain. This is what motivated me to conduct research at the University of Montreal Hospital (CHUM).

*1 Deyo RA, Weinstein JN (2001) New England Journal of Medicine 344:363-370
*2 Fede C, Petrelli L, Guidolin D, Porzionato A, Pirri C, Fan C et al (2021) Sci Rep 11:12623
*3 Langevin HM, Fox JR, Koptiuch C, Badger GJ, Greenan-Naumann AC, Bouffard NA et al (2011) BMC Musculoskelet Disord 12:203

Clinique d’osteopathie japonaise
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