Using a branch of science that crosses disciplines to study complex problems, a Michigan State University researcher is introducing a new way to understand and treat lower back pain, a condition affecting more than 40 million Americans and costing billions of dollars each year. N. Peter Reeves, a researcher in Osteopathic Surgical Specialties in MSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, is studying the spine using systems science, which became popular in the early 20th century. With a systems approach, it is possible to study complex systems in a way that not only includes their parts but also how the parts interact to affect the entire system. In this video, Jacek Cholewicki, professor of Osteopathic Surgical Specialties at Michigan State University, discusses his spinal research and his method, borrowed from engineering, of spine systems science. Credit: Michigan State University