Thrust Manipulation Versus Non-Thrust Manipulation

Phase 2

Completed

• Conditions: Mechanical Low Back Pain
• Interventions: Procedure: Non-thrust manipulation; Procedure: Thrust manipulation

• Registration Number: NCT01438203
• Lead Sponsor: Walsh University

Brief Summary

The objective of this study is to investigate the comparative benefit of thrust and non-thrust manipulation on a population of patients with low back pain. The investigators hypothesize that there will be no difference in 4 week outcomes or greater, between the two groups.

Detailed Description

Thrust manipulation is considered traditional spinal manipulation. Nonthrust manipulation is considered mobilization. The mobilization will be used in a similar manner as in clinical practice and this differs from past studies.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2011-02
• Study First Submitted: 2011-09-19
• Study First Submitted QC: 2011-09-20
• Study First Posted: 2011-09-22
• Primary Completion: 2012-02
• Study Completion: 2012-02
• Status Verified: 2012-08
• Last Update Submitted: 2012-08-31
• Last Update Posted: 2012-09-05

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 149

Inclusion Criteria

• Patients, age 18 and older, with mechanically producible low back pain, who attend care at a physical therapy outpatient setting, will be screened for eligibility for the study.
• For patients to meet inclusion requirements, they had to display a within session change in pain and/or range of motion during the assessment phase of the clinical examination. In other words, as the clinician performed their assessment and applied a passive accessory assessment technique, the pain and/or range of motion improved during that session, which suggests a favorable outcome using a comparable treatment technique. This is hallmark clinical finding in the patient response model and has been proposed as both a predictor of a positive outcome and as a prognostic variable toward long-term improvements in impairments.

Exclusion Criteria

• The presence of any red flags (i.e., tumor, metabolic diseases, RA, osteoporosis, prolonged history of steroid use, etc.)
• Signs consistent with nerve root compression (reproduction of low back or leg pain with straight leg raise at less than 45°
• Muscle weakness involving a major muscle group of the lower extremity,
• Diminished lower extremity muscle stretch reflex
• Diminished or absent sensation to pinprick in any lower extremity dermatome)
• Other exclusion criteria included prior surgery to the lumbar spine and current pregnancy

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Non-thrust manipulation	Non-thrust manipulation	Clinicians will apply non-thrust manipulation (targeted) as performed in a clinical manner for treatment for included individuals
Thrust manipulation	Thrust manipulation	Clinicians will use thrust manipulation at a targeted level to provide the treatment on selected individuals

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Oswestry disability index	Baseline to discharge from therapy services (up to 4 months). An expected average is 4 weeks.	Change score

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)	Baseline to discharge from therapy services (up to 4 months). An expected average is 4 weeks.	Change score

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Walsh University; 🇺🇸 North Canton, Ohio, United States