title: A Randomized, Single-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study on the Efficacy of the Arthrokinematic Approach-Hakata Method in Patients with Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain.
abstract: METHODS
  Cized, single-blind, controlled trial.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the efficacy of the Arthrokinematic approach (AKA)-Hakata (H) method for chronic low back pain.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The AKA-H method is used to manually treat abnormalities of intra-articular movement.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred eighty-six patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain randomly received either the AKA-H method (AKA-H group) or the sham technique (S group) monthly for 6 months. Data were collected at baseline and once a month. Outcome measures were pain intensity (visual analogue scale [VAS]) and quality of life (the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire [RDQ] and Short Form SF-36 questionnaire [SF-36]).
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, the VAS, RDQ, and SF-36 scores showed similar levels between the groups. After 6 months, the AKA-H group had more improvement in the VAS (42.8% improvement) and RDQ score (31.1% improvement) than the sham group (VAS: 10.4% improvement; RDQ: 9.8% improvement; both, P < 0.001). The respective scores for the SF-36 subscales (physical functioning, role physical, bodily pain, social functioning, general health perception, role emotional, and mental health) were also significantly more improved in the AKA-H group than in the sham group (all, P < 0.001). The scores for the physical, psychological, and social aspects of the SF-36 subscales showed similar improvement in the AKA-H group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The AKA-H method can be effective in managing chronic low back pain.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR) UMIN000006250.
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sakura Orthopedic Hospital, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kogure
authors.affiliation: Division of Community and Family Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan.|Department of Public Health, Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kotani
authors.affiliation: Orthopedics Division, Katada Orthopedic Clinic, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Shigehiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Katada
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Saitama Prefectural Rehabilitation Center, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takagi
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Oka Orthopedic Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamikozuru
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Isaji
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Japanese Medical Society of Arthrokinematic Approach, Yamanashi, Japan.
authors.forename: Setsuo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hakata
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D010919:Placebos; D016037:Single-Blind Method
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos