What's the best way to treat neck, back pain?

February 4, 2009 A new study shows that health professionals may not be prescribing physical activity as often as they should. That's even though the proper exercise can help people deal with and sometimes alleviate chronic neck and back pain.

Less than half of the nearly 700 peopled surveyed were prescribed exercise

The study in Arthritis Care and Research showed those who were given instructions to exercise were nearly twice as likely to have received the order from a physical therapist than from a physician or chiropractor.