Immediate Changes After Manual Therapy in Patients With Non-specific Back Pain (EffDorsMan)

University of Valencia

Status: Completed

Conditions: Back Pain

Treatments: Other: Articulatory spinal manual therapy; Other: Neuro-lymphatic treatment; Other: Articulatory costal Manual therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02520648

ID009

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this trial is to investigate the immediate effects of neuro-lymphatic treatment, thoracic vertebral and costal articulatory in terms of back pain levels, cervical and dorsal flexibility, sense of body comfort and satisfaction with the treatment received.

Full description

Subjects:

The study was conducted at the Faculty of Physiotherapy of the University of Valencia (Spain). Persistent non-specific back pain subjects between 20 and 30 years old were recruited and voluntarily participated in the study. Excluded subjects with musculoskeletal injuries such as spine or balance disorders, those which were recovering from an injury of the locomotor or neurological system, or those who had sequelae from any trauma suffered in the past six months that could affect the results of the study.

Study design:

The conducted study was an experimental, longitudinal and prospective, controlled, randomized and single-blind design (subjects and therapists didn't know the objectives of the treatment nor how many treatments were offered, evaluators were unaware of the treatments applied). There were 3 groups: a) neuro-lymphatic treatment; b) vertebral articulatory treatment; c) proximal costal articulatory treatment.

Enrollment: 125 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20 to 30 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Non-specific Back Pain subjects between 20 and 30 years old were recruited and voluntarily participated in the study.

Exclusion criteria

• Excluded subjects with musculoskeletal injuries such as spine or balance disorders
• Those which were recovering from an injury of the locomotor or neurological system, or
• Those who had sequelae from any trauma suffered in the past six months that could affect the results of the study.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Factorial Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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125 participants in 3 patient groups

Neuro-lymphatic treatment

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants were positioned in prone, with the head in neutral position and the arms beside the body. They were asked to perform conscious breathing. The physical therapist applied direct firm rotary pressure, via thumb or tip finger, for 1 minute, from the transverse processes of T1 to the transverse processes of T12. To finish the intervention, hands were placed on the skull and sacrum during 2 minutes without movement. Neuro-lymphatic reflexes as referred to applied kinesiology, are locations on the body that are believed to affect a specific muscle and organ. Duration of the treatment is 15 minutes.

Treatment:

Other: Neuro-lymphatic treatment

Articulatory spinal manual therapy.

Experimental group

Description:

Then the therapist performs pressures in the transverse apophysis from D1 to D12 (level of the paravertebral muscles, at a distance of 2 fingers of the spinous apophysis), applying sustained pressure during expiratory time until the articulatory barrier is reached. Three repetitions are performed at each vertebral level. It is done bilaterally, then longitudinal pressures are applied on dorsal vertebrae during expiratory time, 3 repetitions. It ends like treatment 1. This technique aims to normalize possible slight dysfunctions of the spine, enhance the feeling of comfort and pain, and relax the spine. Duration of the treatment is 15 minutes.

Treatment:

Other: Articulatory spinal manual therapy

Articulatory costal Manual therapy.

Experimental group

Description:

The therapist performs costal-vertebral articulatory movement, from 1st to 12th rib (level of the outside paravertebral muscles, at a distance of 4 fingers from the spinous apophysis on the back of the costal body) applying a sustained pressure during expiratory time and promoting its biomechanics, up to the articulatory barrier. Three repetitions are performed at each costal level. It is done bilaterally, then longitudinal pressures are applied on dorsal vertebrae during expiratory time, 3 repetitions. It ends like treatment 1. This technique aims to normalize the mobility of the ribs, enhance the feeling of comfort and pain, and relax the spine. Duration of the treatment is 15 minutes.

Treatment:

Other: Articulatory costal Manual therapy