OMT Relieves Severe Chronic Low Back Pain
-
Michael A. Seffinger
Licciardone JC, Kearns CM, Minotti DE. Outcomes of osteopathic manual treatment for chronic low back pain according to baseline pain severity: results from the OSTEOPATHIC Trial [published online December 2013]. Man Ther.2013;18(6):533-540. doi:10.1016/j.math.2013.05.006.
The largest and most rigorous randomized controlled trial on osteopathic manual treatment (more commonly known as osteopathic manipulative treatment [OMT]), the OSTEOPAThic Health outcomes In Chronic low back pain Trial, was published in 2013.1 It used a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled, 2 × 2 factorial design to study OMT for patients with chronic low back pain (LBP). The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association published 4 subgroup analyses of this historic trial.2-5 Another subgroup analysis from this trial, recently published in Manual Therapy, reported the effectiveness of OMT according to baseline severity of chronic LBP.
A total of 455 participants were divided into 2 categories: those who reported low baseline pain severity (<50 mm on a 100-mm visual analog scale; 269 participants [59%]) and those who reported high baseline pain severity (⩾50 mm on a 100-mm visual analog scale; 186 participants [41%]). Six 15-minute OMT sessions were provided every 2 weeks by the same trained osteopathic physician over 8 weeks. Outcomes were assessed at week 12. The provided OMT techniques included high-velocity, low-amplitude; articulatory; soft tissue; myofascial stretching and release; strain-counterstrain; and muscle energy. Sham OMT included active and passive range of motion, light touch, improper patient positioning, purposely misdirected movements, and diminished force.
The study revealed a large effect size for OMT vs sham OMT in providing substantial LBP improvement in patients with high baseline pain severity (response ratio, 2.04; 95% confidence interval, 1.36-3.05; P<.001). Clinically important improvement in back-specific functioning was also found in the OMT group compared with that in the sham OMT group (response ratio, 1.80; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-3.01; P⩽.02). The findings of this study suggest that OMT would be an excellent adjunct to the care of patients with severe chronic LBP.
-
“The Somatic Connection” highlights and summarizes important contributions to the growing body of literature on the musculoskeletal system's role in health and disease. This section of The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association (JAOA) strives to chronicle the significant increase in published research on manipulative methods and treatments in the United States and the renewed interest in manual medicine internationally, especially in Europe.
-
To submit scientific reports for possible inclusion in “The Somatic Connection,” readers are encouraged to contact JAOA Associate Editor Michael A. Seffinger, DO (mseffingerdo@osteopathic.org), or JAOA Editorial Advisory Board Member Hollis H. King, DO, PhD (hollis.king@fammed.wisc.edu).
References
1 Licciardone JC Minotti DE Gatchel RJ Kearns CM Singh KP . Osteopathic manual treatment and ultrasound therapy for chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial. Ann Fam Med.2013;11(2):122-129. doi:10.1370/afm.1468.10.1370/afm.1468Suche in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central
2 Licciardone JC Kearns CM . Somatic dysfunction and its association with chronic low back pain, back-specific functioning, and general health: results from the OSTEOPATHIC Trial. J Am Osteopath Assoc.2012;112(7):420-428.Suche in Google Scholar
3 Licciardone JC Kearns CM Hodge LM Bergamini MV . Associations of cytokine concentrations with key osteopathic lesions and clinical outcomes in patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain: results from the OSTEOPATHIC Trial. J Am Osteopath Assoc.2012;112(9):596-605.10.7556/jaoa.2012.112.9.596Suche in Google Scholar PubMed
4 Licciardone JC Gatchel RJ Kearns CM Minotti DE . Depression, somatization, and somatic dysfunction in patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain: results from the OSTEOPATHIC Trial. J Am Osteopath Assoc.2012;112(12):783-791.10.7556/jaoa.2012.112.9.596Suche in Google Scholar
5 Licciardone JC Kearns CM Hodge LM Minotti DE . Osteopathic manual treatment in patients with diabetes mellitus and comorbid chronic low back pain: subgroup results from the OSTEOPATHIC Trial. J Am Osteopath Assoc.2013;113(6):468-478.Suche in Google Scholar
© 2014 The American Osteopathic Association
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Abstracts
- 2013 SOMA Abstracts and Poster Competition
- 2013 BIOM Abstracts and Poster Competition
- Editorial
- Our Past, Present, and Future Are in Our Hands
- Letters
- Osteopathic Manual Treatment and Ultrasound Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain: An Illustration of Osteopathic Semantic Confusion
- Original Contribution
- The Persistence of Lumbar Somatic Dysfunction and Its Association With Bone Mineral Density
- Medical Education
- Patterns of Misrepresentation of Clinical Findings on Patient Notes During the COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE
- Special Communication
- A Degree of Difference: The Origins of Osteopathy and First Use of the “DO” Designation
- A Research Primer, Part 2: Guidelines for Developing a Research Project
- Case Report
- A Case of Seasonal Recurrent Myopericarditis
- A Case of Idiopathic Colonic Varices
- The Somatic Connection
- OMT Relieves Severe Chronic Low Back Pain
- Abdominal Muscles Are the Front Side of the Low Back
- Systematic Review Paints Incomplete Picture of OMT Research
- Manual Therapy or Exercise Effective for Hip or Knee Osteoarthritis
- Review of Severe Adverse Events From Spinal Manipulative Therapy of the Lumbopelvic Area
- A Chiropractic Perspective: Spinal Manipulative Therapy Is Not Causally Related to Stroke
- Clinical Images
- Abducens Palsy
- In Your Words
- No Place Like HOME
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Abstracts
- 2013 SOMA Abstracts and Poster Competition
- 2013 BIOM Abstracts and Poster Competition
- Editorial
- Our Past, Present, and Future Are in Our Hands
- Letters
- Osteopathic Manual Treatment and Ultrasound Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain: An Illustration of Osteopathic Semantic Confusion
- Original Contribution
- The Persistence of Lumbar Somatic Dysfunction and Its Association With Bone Mineral Density
- Medical Education
- Patterns of Misrepresentation of Clinical Findings on Patient Notes During the COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE
- Special Communication
- A Degree of Difference: The Origins of Osteopathy and First Use of the “DO” Designation
- A Research Primer, Part 2: Guidelines for Developing a Research Project
- Case Report
- A Case of Seasonal Recurrent Myopericarditis
- A Case of Idiopathic Colonic Varices
- The Somatic Connection
- OMT Relieves Severe Chronic Low Back Pain
- Abdominal Muscles Are the Front Side of the Low Back
- Systematic Review Paints Incomplete Picture of OMT Research
- Manual Therapy or Exercise Effective for Hip or Knee Osteoarthritis
- Review of Severe Adverse Events From Spinal Manipulative Therapy of the Lumbopelvic Area
- A Chiropractic Perspective: Spinal Manipulative Therapy Is Not Causally Related to Stroke
- Clinical Images
- Abducens Palsy
- In Your Words
- No Place Like HOME
