Brief Report
Synopsis: Evaluation of 4 different back pain interventions showed no differential benefit between them.
Source: Hsieh CY, et al. Spine. 2002;27:1142-1148.
This randomized, assessor-blinded clinical trial was designed to investigate the effectiveness of 3 manual treatment regimens (joint manipulation, myofascial therapy, or a combination of these 2) vs. a back education program. Two hundred patients were assigned to 1 of the 4 groups, with assessments at baseline, every 3 weeks, and at 6 months after the completion of therapy. The primary outcome measures used visual analog scales and Roland-Morris activity scales.
Comment by Brian R. Apatoff, MD
All 4 groups showed equal improvement in pain and activity scores after 3 weeks of treatment and had no further benefit at the 6-month follow-up assessment. There was no significant difference between outcomes using chiropractic treatments as compared to the back education school. Given that back pain is such a large issue in neurology, costing hundreds of millions for the health economy, it is hoped that such well-designed studies will provide evidence-based medicine to guide rational health care and eliminate unhelpful chiropractic methods.
Dr. Apatoff is Associate Professor of Neurology, New York Presbyterian Hospital-Cornell Campus, New York, NY.
Subscribe Now for Access
You have reached your article limit for the month. We hope you found our articles both enjoyable and insightful. For information on new subscriptions, product trials, alternative billing arrangements or group and site discounts please call 800-688-2421. We look forward to having you as a long-term member of the Relias Media community.