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Similar outcomes seen following thrust vs non-thrust spinal manipulation for low back pain
Results from this study indicated similar improvements in short-term low back pain with thrust compared to non-thrust spinal manipulation procedures for patients with subacute or chronic low back pain and that both techniques were more effective than wait list, which served as a control.
Researchers performed a controlled trial and identified 192 patients who had low back pain for at least 4 weeks, scored six or more on the Roland-Morris disability questionnaire and were classified as a one, two or three on the Quebec Task Force classification for spinal disorders. Investigators allocated the patients to either four sessions of thrust or non-thrust spinal manipulation procedures or to a 2-week wait list control group. Primary outcomes of the study included low-back pain disability, the VAS score to determine low back pain intensity, the fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire score and the SF-36.
Results showed improvements were significantly greater for the thrust and non-thrust spinal manipulation groups compared with patients on the wait list with regard to low back pain disability and intensity, the SF-36 score and the fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire score. Investigators noted outcomes were not significantly different between either of the spinal manipulation groups. ‒ by Monica Jaramillo
Disclosure: The study was supported by the Research Facilities Improvement grant number C06 RR15433-01 from the National Center for Research Resources, NIH.