The aim of this study is to gain insight and understanding of the perception of Australian patients toward manual therapies. The study also tries to increase our understanding of manual techniques used by manual therapists.

Many randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and reviews concluded that acupuncture is not an effective treatment for low back pain (LBP) and there is no difference between real acupuncture and sham acupuncture in the treatment of LBP.

Objective: To investigate the interrelationship between back exercise and acupuncture curative effect,and unveil the reason that recovery usually delays in a number of low back pain sufferers. Method: The study is designed as a retrospect investigation. Seventy patients who were newly diagnosed with low back pain were sequentially selected and divided into two groups, 44 cases in the observation group treated with acupuncture plus exercise, and 26 cases in the control group only treated with acupuncture. The recurrence rates in the one-year follow-up after the acupuncture service were compared between the two groups. Result and Conclusion: Back exercise is a risk factor associated with frequent back pain recurrence. In contrast, acupuncture is an effective intervention method for the treatment and prevention of non-specific low back pain.