Physical therapies
These include physiotherapy, osteopathy and chiropractice, and are particularly useful for aches and pains in the muscles and tendons. They use a range of manipulation, massage, ultrasound, and heat and cold treatments.
The benefits of physical therapies have been increasingly recognised by doctors in recent years. For example, the National Clinical Guidelines for Acute Low Back Pain recommend manipulative treatment within the first six weeks for patients who need help with pain relief or who are failing to return to normal activities.