Manual Therapy as a Form of Sensory Discrimination in Chronic Low Back Pain

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Manual Therapy as a Form of Sensory Discrimination in Chronic Low Back Pain

This study evaluates whether different explanations given to patients with long lasting back pain influence a physical therapy treatment technique. Half of the patients will receive an explanation of the proposed treatment technique focusing on how their joints are moving and not moving. The second half of the group will receive the same treatment technique as the first group, but their explanation of the technique's purpose will focus on how their brain interprets the information. The study aims to determine if patients have a different response to the treatment based on the words chosen to explain the technique.

Traditional treatment provided by physical therapists to patients with chronic low back pain focuses on the biomechanical or anatomical impact to local tissues. Recent research has shown that treatment effects may be more related to the understanding of the structural and functional changes in the brain of someone suffering from chronic low back pain. This research implicates that the patients understanding and interpretation of input to the brain may change the patient's perceived representation and interpretation of output of pain within the brain.

Patients who receive manual physical therapy treatment with a neuroplasticity explanation of the basis for the technique

Patients who receive manual physical therapy treatment with a traditional, biomechanical explanation of the basis for the technique

Patients were given an explanation of how the brain uses the information from a manual therapy technique to help it remain sharp in identifying where this input is coming from.

Patients were given an explanation of how the manual therapy technique affects the anatomy and physiology of the back.

Change, measured within a single, one hour session, of baseline measurements taken, followed immediately by the education / treatment, followed immediately by post-education / treatment measurement of the patient's pain in low back on a numeric pain rating scale of 0 to 10

Change, measured within a single, one hour session, of baseline measurements taken, followed immediately by the education / treatment, followed immediately by post-education / treatment measurement, level of patient's leg pain on a numeric pain rating scale of 0 to 10.

Change, measured within a single, one hour session, of baseline measurements taken, followed immediately by the education / treatment, followed immediately by post-education / treatment measurement of distance from longest finger to the floor when patient bends forward (in cm).

Change, measured within a single, one hour session, of baseline measurements taken, followed immediately by the education / treatment, followed immediately by post-education / treatment measurement of angle to which the patient's most affected leg can be lifted (measured in degrees using an inclinometer).

Inclusion Criteria: Adults over the age of 18 Presenting at Physical Therapy with a primary complaint of Low Back Pain Low Back Pain being present for 6 months or more Fluent in English and willing to participate in the study. Exclusion Criteria: Medical precautions to the use of manual therapy (metal, skin lesions, etc.) Prior spine surgery Unable to lay prone for the treatment.