Relative therapeutic efficacy of vertebral manipulation and conventional treatment in back pain management.

A study was conducted to compare the relative efficacy of conventional (heat, pelvic tilt exercises, postural education and lifting instructions) and manipulation therapy in back pain management. Twenty-five females were in the conventional therapy group (CTG) and 26 females in the manipulation therapy group (MTG). Range of motion of total flexion and extension, total side-flexion and total rotation of the lumbar spine and the straight-leg-raising test were used as criteria to determine efficacy of treatment. The results showed that while the mean treatment time for CTG subjects was 160 minutes (SD = 7.9) that for MTG patients was 121.2 (SD = 10.2) with a significant difference p less than 0.001. There were significant differences between the two groups with regards to post-treatment differences in total flexion and extension p less than 0.01; total side flexion p less than 0.05; and total rotation p less than 0.05 in favour of the MTG subjects. There was also significant difference in post-treatment straight-leg-raising values between the two groups p less than 0.05 in favour of the MTG group. It was concluded that manipulation therapy as shown by this study was superior to the conventional method in the treatment of the type of patient described.