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The long-term effects of naprapathic manual therapy on back and neck pain - results from a pragmatic randomized controlled trial.

AbstractBACKGROUND:
Back and neck pain are very common, disabling and recurrent disorders in the general population and the knowledge of long-term effect of treatments are sparse. The aim of this study was to compare the long-term effects (up to one year) of naprapathic manual therapy and evidence-based advice on staying active regarding non-specific back and/or neck pain. Naprapathy, a health profession mainly practiced in Sweden, Finland, Norway and in the USA, is characterized by a combination of manual musculoskeletal manipulations, aiming to decrease pain and disability in the neuromusculoskeletal system.
METHODS:
Subjects with non-specific pain/disability in the back and/or neck lasting for at least two weeks (n = 409), recruited at public companies in Sweden, were included in this pragmatic randomized controlled trial. The two interventions compared were naprapathic manual therapy such as spinal manipulation/mobilization, massage and stretching, (Index Group), and advice to stay active and on how to cope with pain, provided by a physician (Control Group). Pain intensity, disability and health status were measured by questionnaires.
RESULTS:
89% completed the 26-week follow-up and 85% the 52-week follow-up. A higher proportion in the Index Group had a clinically important decrease in pain (risk difference (RD) = 21%, 95% CI: 10-30) and disability (RD = 11%, 95% CI: 4-22) at 26-week, as well as at 52-week follow-ups (pain: RD = 17%, 95% CI: 7-27 and disability: RD = 17%, 95% CI: 5-28). The differences between the groups in pain and disability considered over one year were statistically significant favoring naprapathy (p < or = 0.005). There were also significant differences in improvement in bodily pain and social function (subscales of SF-36 health status) favoring the Index Group.
CONCLUSIONS:
Combined manual therapy, like naprapathy, is effective in the short and in the long term, and might be considered for patients with non-specific back and/or neck pain.
TRIAL REGISTRATION:
Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN56954776.
AuthorsEva Skillgate, Tony Bohman, Lena W Holm, Eva Vingård, Lars Alfredsson
JournalBMC musculoskeletal disorders (BMC Musculoskelet Disord) Vol. 11 Pg. 26 (Feb 05 2010) ISSN: 1471-2474 [Electronic] England
PMID20137063 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
Topics
  • Adult
  • Back Pain (therapy)
  • Complementary Therapies (methods)
  • Disability Evaluation
  • Evidence-Based Practice
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Musculoskeletal Manipulations
  • Neck Pain (therapy)
  • Quality of Life
  • Social Behavior
  • Treatment Outcome

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