Lumbar radiculopathy is a condition where back pain radiates down the leg(s). The number one cause of lumbar radiculopathy is a disc herniation. In an article published in The American Journal of Medicine, the authors concluded that spinal manipulation improves the results of physical therapy over a 3 month period for people suffering with lumbar radiculopathy. ~ Dr. Broussard
Spinal manipulation for subacute and chronic lumbar radiculopathy: a randomized controlled trial
The American Journal of Medicine
Author: Seyedezahra Hosseini Ghasabmahaleh
Published:September 12, 2020DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2020.08.005
Abstract
Objective
We evaluated the efficacy of spinal manipulation for the management of non-acute lumbar radiculopathy.
Methods
In a university hospital we performed a randomized controlled trial with two parallel arms. Patients (n=44) with unilateral radicular low back pain lasting more than 4 weeks were randomly allocated to manipulation and control groups. The primary outcome was the intensity of the low back pain on a visual analog scale. The secondary outcome was the Oswestry Disability Questionnaire score. We also measured spinal ranges of motion. The assessments were carried out at the baseline, immediately after intervention and at three months follow-up. All patients underwent physiotherapy. The manipulation group received three sessions of manipulation therapy, one week apart. For manipulation, we used Robert Maigne’s technique.
Results
Both groups experienced a decrease in back and leg pain significantly (all p≤0.003). However, only the manipulation group showed significantly favorable results in the Oswestry scores (p<0.001), and the straight leg raise test (p=0.001). All ranges of motion increased significantly with manipulation (all p<0.001), but the control group showed favorable results only in right and left rotations and in extension (all p<0.001). Between-group analyses showed significantly better outcomes for manipulation in all measurements (all p≤0.009) with large effect sizes.
Conclusion
Spinal manipulation improves the results of physiotherapy over a period of three months for patients with subacute or chronic lumbar radiculopathy.