Effectiveness of a specific mobilisation treatment on a certain type of low back pain

Chiradejnant A, Kanlayanaphotporn R

Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate whether a recommended spinal mobilisation technique used in the treatment of non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) patients with central or bilateral symptoms is best in relieving pain and improving range of movement.

Materials and methods

One manipulative physiotherapist and 20 NSLBP patients suffering with such symptoms participated. The therapist assessed the patients and recorded the preferred treatment details. Prior to the treatment, baseline measurements including pain intensity and lumbar range of movements, were taken. The patients were then randomly allocated to one of two groups. The first group received the central posteroanterior mobilisation treatment while the other received a randomly assigned mobilisation treatment. The therapist applied the treatment of two sets of one-minute repetition. Immediately after the treatment, the follow-up measures were taken. Unpaired t-test was used to investigate the effect of treatment intervention with the P value set at 0.05.

Results

Both groups showed improvement in pain intensity and range of movement after treatment. However, the improvement found in the patients who received the central posteroanterior mobilisation technique was not superior to that in those who received a randomly assigned mobilisation treatment. These findings suggest that the recommended mobilisation technique was no more effective than other techniques in relieving pain and improving the range of movement in patients with central or bilateral low back pain symptoms.

Conclusion

A specific technique of spinal mobilisation for patients with central or bilateral low back pain symptoms is not essential.

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