If you’re fighting a twinge in your lower back, you need to leave the paracetamol in the bathroom cabinet. According to new research published in the British Medical Journal, the common go-to painkiller has little to no effect on lower back pain, with the researching finding there’s "small but not clinically important benefits" for people with back problems. The research was conducted over 13 clinical trials, where more than 5,000 people were divided into those treated with paracetamol and those administered a placebo. Despite being the currently form of medication recommended for lower back pain and osteoarthritis, the drug was seen to have minimal effects on easing back pain, knee or hip osteoarthritis. According to the lead authors of the study: "Paracetamol is ineffective in the treatment of low back pain and provides minimal short term benefit for people with osteoarthritis. "These results support the reconsideration of recommendations to use paracetamol for patients with low back pain and osteoarthritis of the hip or knee in clinical practice guidelines." Still in need for a cure? Why not try acupuncture or book in a back massage to help ease the tension and relax the muscles.