The Effects of Thrust Joint Manipulation on the Resting and Contracting Thickness of Transversus Abdominis in Subjects With Low Back Pain

Nova Southeastern University (NSU)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Low Back Pain

Treatments: Other: Non-thrust Joint Manipulation of the Lumbar Spine; Other: Thrust Joint Manipulation of the Lumbar Spine

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02558855

01151512

Details and patient eligibility

About

The primary aim of this study is to examine how different physical therapy interventions affect the resting state and contraction state of a certain abdominal muscle in patients with low back pain.

Full description

Patients with low back pain (LBP) will undergo ultrasound imaging of the transversus abdominis to measure the muscle thickness at rest and at the contracted state prior to intervention and again immediately after intervention. In this randomized controlled trial, patients will be randomized into one of two groups. One group will receive the intervention of thrust joint manipulation of the lumbar spine and the other group will receive the intervention of non-thrust joint manipulation of the lumbar spine.

Enrollment: 67 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 70 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Adults between 18-70 years of age with primary symptom of LBP, with or without referral into lower extremity.
• Subjects must be able to read and write in English.

Exclusion criteria

• Presence of serious pathology.
• Diagnosis of spinal stenosis or symptoms in both lower legs (changes in sensation, muscle weakness).
• Any history of low back surgery, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, osteopenia, scoliosis, or ankylosing spondylitis.
• Pregnancy
• Pending legal action.
• Prior surgery to the lumbar spine or fractures of the lumbar spine.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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67 participants in 2 patient groups

Thrust Joint Manipulation

Active Comparator group

Description:

Patients will receive thrust joint manipulation to their lumbar spine in side lying.

Treatment:

Other: Thrust Joint Manipulation of the Lumbar Spine

Non-thrust Joint Manipulation

Sham Comparator group

Description:

Patients will receive non-thrust joint manipulation, oscillations into slight rotation, without cavitation, to their lumbar spine in side lying.

Treatment:

Other: Non-thrust Joint Manipulation of the Lumbar Spine