UNI BACK PAIN RESEARCH PRAISED

RESEARCHERS who have transformed patients’ treatment for back pain have been named on a UK list of the 100 ‘best breakthroughs’.

The Keele University team developed an innovative and personalised approach, which identifies people most at risk of experiencing the problem and then matches patients with the most appropriate treatment.

Through the trials, it has halved the amount of time people need off work due to back pain, reduced their disability and saved millions of pounds.

The system – known as ‘START Back’ – has been developed over the last 15 years. Professor David Amigoni, pro vice-chancellor at Keele University, said: “It is fantastic to see the university featured.”

The list – compiled by Universities UK – is aimed at showing how universities are at the forefront of the world’s most important discoveries.