A new international study validates the Canali Postural Method (CPM), a personalized exercise approach that could change how Thai readers manage recurrent low back pain. Researchers from Italy’s National Research Council and Temple University in the United States published their findings in Healthcare, showing CPM provides greater pain relief and functional recovery than conventional exercise for non-specific low back pain.
Global data show nearly 700 million people suffer from low back pain at any moment, imposing costs on productivity and health systems. In Thailand, back pain is common among office workers, motorbike drivers, farmers, and the elderly—reflecting the country’s evolving, physically demanding lifestyle. Most cases are non-specific, meaning there is no identifiable structural cause. This makes sustained improvement a persistent challenge, a reality readers in Thai clinics know well.
The study used 70 adults split into two groups: four weeks of CPM versus a standard set of strengthening, stretching, and core exercises. Both groups met twice weekly with clinicians and did daily home exercises. CPM began with a personalized assessment to identify each person’s postural imbalances, then created tailored exercise plans focusing on reprogramming movement patterns. The conventional group followed a generic routine.
Results favored CPM. On a 100-mm Visual Analogue Scale for pain, CPM participants reported an average reduction exceeding 41 points, surpassing thresholds for meaningful clinical improvement. Disability scores also fell more in the CPM group at both immediately after the program and at three months. Age, gender, and initial disability were similar between groups, strengthening the findings.
Lead author Saverio Sabina, a senior researcher at the National Research Council, described CPM as fostering new motor patterns and balanced movement to reduce musculoskeletal stress and pain. Co-author Antonio Giordano of Temple University emphasized the importance of validating innovative methods, calling CPM a promising tool for a widespread social and economic problem.
CPM’s creator, Vincenzo Canali, explained the broader aim: to help people regain lasting postural and functional balance through an integrated approach that respects human physiology. CPM emphasizes identifying muscular imbalances and compensatory postures before designing movement plans, addressing underlying dysfunctions often missed by typical routines.
Co-author Patrizia Maiorano, a rehabilitation specialist, noted that innovative strategies are essential in physical medicine. CPM shows potential to support pain resolution and functional recovery across conditions linked to overload and poor posture. The study’s relevance for Thai society is clear: musculoskeletal complaints are a familiar topic in daily life.
Thailand faces opportunities and challenges in adopting CPM. While European researchers validate CPM’s personalized framework, implementing it widely may require more resources than casual, quick-fix approaches. Still, many Thai physical therapy clinics already offer personalized assessments and movement correction, aligning with growing trends in sports science and rehabilitation. Bangkok and provincial clinics often blend core stability, yoga, Pilates, and traditional therapies, underscoring the need for rigorous, evidence-based interventions.
Thai culture places emphasis on posture as a reflection of health, discipline, and composure. As the population ages, chronic back pain could become a greater public health burden for families and the healthcare system. CPM’s approach—prioritizing screening for imbalances and multi-step postural re-assessment—could suit tech-savvy urban Thais who might embrace wearable sensors to support home exercise adherence, while rural programs could adapt the method for groups.
One key takeaway is that back pain treatment should not be one-size-fits-all. Structured posture assessment and personalized re-training appear more effective than generic routines. While the study’s follow-up was three months, the marked improvements in pain and function are compelling. Greater standardization of CPM could support consistent training and research, though longer-term studies are needed.
Thai researchers and educators can explore CPM in local settings, comparing outcomes to existing programs while considering daily Thai practices—such as sitting cross-legged, long commutes, and informal labor—that influence posture and pain. The push for safe, non-drug back pain therapies is timely amid concerns about opioid use and surgical limitations for non-specific cases.
For readers: if you suffer from persistent low back pain, seek a physiotherapist who can perform a full postural assessment and tailor a program to your needs. Ask whether evidence-based, personalized methods like CPM are available and stay as active as your pain allows. Policymakers and providers can support ongoing education for therapists in innovative exercise therapies to improve quality of life across Thailand.
In summary, treating chronic low back pain means targeted, science-backed interventions that respect the body’s movement. As Thai clinics, insurers, and health authorities evaluate new methods, CPM could become part of a broader strategy to help millions live without chronic back pain.
Sources and additional context are integrated from research by the National Research Council and Temple University, with emphasis on Thai relevance and clinical applicability. Data reflect findings published in Healthcare and corroborating analyses, highlighting the need for personalized rehabilitation approaches.