A US-based researcher is trying to find a new way to treat back pain, which involves focusing on small individual areas of the spine.

Science Daily reported that Peter Reeves of Michigan State University's College of Osteopathic Medicine is carrying out a study using a method known as systems science.

This works by establishing how the operating of a constituent part of a physical system can affect the whole.

He stated that by carrying out such a study, "it allows the research community to share results and integrate data to provide a coherent picture of the spine system".

Mr Reeves recently addressed a scientific meeting on the issue in Australia.

Systems science is not a new approach, having been originally developed in the 20th century.

However, for many people the method may not be useful, as often no cause can be found for their back pains, Ultralieve has noted.

Those who suffer in this way could find that ultrasound treatment works for them, leaving the scientific theories of why they might have such pain to others.