title: The effect of visceral osteopathic manual therapy applications on pain, quality of life and function in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The efficacy of osteopathic manual therapy (OMT) applications on chronic nonspecific low back pain (LBP) has been demonstrated. However, visceral applications, which are an important part of OMT techniques, have not been included in those studies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study's objective was to determine the effect of OMT including visceral applications on the function and quality of life (QoL) in patients with chronic nonspecific LBP.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was designed with a simple method of block randomization.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine patients with chronic nonspecific LBP were included in the study. OMT group consisted of 19 patients to whom OMT and exercise methods were applied. The visceral osteopathic manual therapy (vOMT) group consisted of 20 patients to whom visceral applications were applied in addition to the applications carried out in the other group. Ten sessions were performed over a two-week period. Pain (VAS), function (Oswestry Index) and QoL (SF-36) assessments were carried out before the treatment and on the sixth week of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both of the treatments were found to be effective on pain and function, physical function, pain, general health, social function of the QoL sub-parameter. vOMT was effective on all sub-QoL parameters (p<0.05). Comparing the groups, it was determined that the energy and physical limitations of the QoL scores in vOMT were higher (p< 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Visceral applications on patients with non-specific LBP gave positive results together with OMT and exercise methods. We believe that visceral fascial limitations, which we think cause limitations and pain in the lumbar segment, should be taken into consideration.
authors.forename: Seval
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tamer
authors.forename: Müzeyyen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Öz
authors.forename: Özlem
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Ülger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D026301:Manipulation, Osteopathic; D008875:Middle Aged; D026201:Musculoskeletal Manipulations; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Low back pain; manual therapy; osteopathic manipulative treatment; visceral manipulation