Manual therapy and exercise therapy in patients with chronic low back pain: a randomized, controlled trial with 1-year follow-up.
METHODS
A multicenter, randomized, controlled trial with 1-year follow-up.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the effect of manual therapy to exercise therapy in sick-listed patients with chronic low back pain (>8 wks).


BACKGROUND
The effect of exercise therapy and manual therapy on chronic low back pain with respect to pain, function, and sick leave have been investigated in a number of studies. The results are, however, conflicting.


METHODS
Patients with chronic low back pain or radicular pain sick-listed for more than 8 weeks and less than 6 months were included. A total of 49 patients were randomized to either manual therapy (n = 27) or to exercise therapy (n = 22). Sixteen treatments were given over the course of 2 months. Pain intensity, functional disability (Oswestry disability index), general health (Dartmouth COOP function charts), and return to work were recorded before, immediately after, at 4 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months after the treatment period. Spinal range of motion (Schober test) was measured before and immediately after the treatment period only.


RESULTS
Although significant improvements were observed in both groups, the manual therapy group showed significantly larger improvements than the exercise therapy group on all outcome variables throughout the entire experimental period. Immediately after the 2-month treatment period, 67% in the manual therapy and 27% in the exercise therapy group had returned to work (P < 0.01), a relative difference that was maintained throughout the follow-up period.


CONCLUSIONS
Improvements were found in both intervention groups, but manual therapy showed significantly greater improvement than exercise therapy in patients with chronic low back pain. The effects were reflected on all outcome measures, both on short and long-term follow-up.
Aure
Olav Frode
OF
Larvik Fysioterapi, Norway. auro@sensewave.com
Nilsen
Jens Hoel
JH
Vasseljen
Ottar
O
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D020393:Manipulation, Spinal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome