title: Relief from Back Pain Through Postural Adjustment: a Controlled Clinical Trial of the Immediate Effects of Muscular Chains Therapy (MCT).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Back pain can be one of the most common health problems, causing suffering, disabilities, and financial losses. Postural models for pain treatment state that poor posture alters the joint position and causes pain, such as back pain. Muscular Chain Therapy (MCT) is a technique that is used to treat posture pathologies, among others.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to assess the efficiency of a single session of Muscular Chain Therapy (MCT) on complaints of undiagnosed musculoskeletal spinal pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Physical therapy clinic of the University of Center-West (Guarapuava, Brazil).
  
  
  METHODS
  100 subjects, aged between 20 and 39 years, with complaints of spinal musculoskeletal pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants were randomly assigned by a non-care provider into two groups: The MCT Group that received Muscular Chain Treatment and the Control Group that received a placebo treatment of 15 minutes turned off ultrasound therapy. All volunteers were assessed before and after treatment using an analog pain scale. A score of 0 indicated no pain and 10 was the maximum degree of pain on the scale.
  
  
  METHODS
  Degree of pain measured by analog scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The chi-square goodness of fit test was used to compare gender distribution among groups displayed a p value = .25. Subject age had differences analyzed using the unpaired t test (p = .44). Pain assessment for treatment and placebo control groups was analyzed using a paired t test and unpaired t test. The paired t test was used for intragroup before/after treatment comparison (MCT p = .00001; Control Group p = .0001). The unpaired t test was used for comparing the difference of the pain level before and after treatment between groups (p = .0001). A priori statistical significance was set a p = .05.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is possible to conclude that one MCT session is an effective treatment of undiagnosed spinal musculoskeletal pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, State University of Center-West (UNICENTRO), Guarapuava, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jose L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Rosario
keywords: analog pain scale; musculoskeletal diseases; musculoskeletal manipulations; musculoskeletal pain; pain; posture; spine; static stretching