A Trial Comparing Mechanical Diagnosis and Treatment to Manual Therapy
Chronic Lower Back Pain
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Chronic Lower Back Pain focused on measuring chronic lower back pain, Manual Therapy, Mechanical Diagnosis and Treatment
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Chronic Lower back pain (CLBP) (>12 weeks)
- Veteran
- At least 18 years of age
- Directional preference on physical examination
Exclusion Criteria:
- Non Veteran
- >89 years of age
- Non Mechanical Cause of LBP
- Unable to identify directional preference on physical examination
- Contraindications to manual therapy (cauda equina syndrome, spinal neoplasia or metastatic disease, destructive joint pathology such as rheumatoid arthritis, bowel/bladder dysfunction (associated with the back pain), peripheral neuropathy or progressive lumbosacral radiculopathy, progressive myelopathy or neurogenic claudication or any absolute contraindications to MT such as acute fracture of the lumbar spine)
- Open Worker's compensation case
Sites / Locations
- Rochester Outpatient Clinic (ROPC) of the Canandaigua VA Medical Center
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Active Comparator
Active Comparator
Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy
Manual Therapy
Mechanical diagnosis refers to the classification based on examination of posture and range of motion of the spine, associated with the assessment of subjective symptomatic responses.
Manual therapy (MT) is a broad term encompassing many techniques which attempt to affect possible pain contributors such as joints, tendons, ligaments, and muscles, typically using the therapist's hands but may also utilize a tool or instrument in the case of some soft tissue mobilization therapies as well as low force instrument assisted spinal manipulation therapy.