As Featured in the Daily Mail

Back Pain, Why Millions Are Getting the Wrong Treatment

Spine Plus founder and clinical director Robert Shanks has featured in national media coverage about the UK's back pain crisis, and the disconnect between what most patients receive and what actually works.

Back pain is one of the most costly musculoskeletal conditions in the UK, with millions of people suffering every year. Despite this, a large proportion of patients with confirmed disc injuries, sciatica or spinal stenosis continue to receive generic physiotherapy and pain medication, treatments that address the symptoms rather than the underlying cause.

Robert Shanks has been at the forefront of more targeted, technology-integrated approaches to spinal care since founding Spine Plus in 2000. Spine Plus established the first IDD Therapy clinic in Essex in 2011, the third in the UK, and has since become one of the country's most experienced providers of this gold-standard spinal decompression treatment.

What Is IDD Therapy?

IDD (Intervertebral Differential Dynamics) Therapy is a computer-controlled spinal decompression treatment that uses precise angles and patented oscillatory forces to target specific segments of the spine. Unlike traditional traction, IDD Therapy is able to precisely target individual spinal segments with controlled decompression forces, gently separating the vertebrae at the exact level of a disc injury to reduce pressure, promote disc rehydration and allow healing.

Research shows:

• 86% of disc patients achieved good to excellent outcomes (Shealy & Borgmeyer)
• 76% reduction in pain maintained at one year follow-up
• 79–92% success rates with MRI-documented disc rehydration

For patients with bulging or herniated discs, sciatica, spinal stenosis and trapped nerves, IDD Therapy offers a safe, non-surgical alternative when general care has failed to deliver lasting improvement.

When General Physiotherapy Isn't Enough

Robert Shanks has spoken publicly about the importance of accurate diagnosis in back pain. Not all back pain is the same. Simple mechanical pain, sprains, strains and postural problems, responds well to general physiotherapy and manual therapy. But disc injuries are a different problem altogether.

Disc injuries require a clinician who understands disc biomechanics, can interpret MRI imaging, can apply directional loading strategies and has access to specialist equipment. Treating a confirmed disc bulge with generic stretching and mobilisation exercises often provides temporary relief at best, and can sometimes make things worse.

"If you've already seen a general physio or chiropractor and initially improved, but your symptoms have now plateaued, that's often a sign you've reached the limits of general care."

Robert Shanks, Osteopath & Clinical Director, Spine Plus

Free MRI Evaluation at Spine Plus

Spine Plus offers a free MRI evaluation and consultation for patients considering IDD Therapy. If you have existing MRI scans, Robert and the team will review them as part of your initial assessment. If you don't have scans, Spine Plus can arrange a gold-standard 3T MRI with expert radiologist report from £350.