www.EmploymentCrossing.com According to WebMD a new physical therapy technique may relieve back pain even when all other treatments fail. Souchard's global postural re-education -- or GPR for short -- employs a series of gentle movements to realign spinal column joints, and strengthen and stretch muscles that have become tight and weak from underuse. "GPR corrects the patient's posture and decompresses the spinal canal," says Conrado Estol, an MD and PhD, of the Neurologic Center for Treatment and Rehabilitation in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He presented his study at the American Academy of Neurology’s 57th Annual Meeting in New Orleans. "In our study, nine in 10 people with chronic back pain due to disc disease significantly improved and were able to return to their usual daily activities -- usually within five months." A person with chronic back pain is in too much discomfort to perform the exercise on his own. A physical therapist guides the process, stretching the muscles along the spinal column while the patient is in the specified positions. The treatment included two GPR sessions during the first week, then one session a week for an average of five months. Participants also practiced breathing techniques and were given a home exercise program. Doctor Albert, assistant professor of neurology at Yale University says a success rate of 90 percent in patients with chronic back pain "is very unusual and begs for further investigation." To find a physical therapy job specializing in back therapy and rehabilitation, click here.