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Researchers writing in the French medical journal Annales de réadaptation et de médecine physique say that their study confirms the efficiency of short-term vertebral manipulation for treating chronic low back pain.

Ghroubi S, Elleuch H, Baklouti S, Elleuch MH. [Chronic low back pain and vertebral manipulation.] Ann Readapt Med Phys. 2007 Mar 8;

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the short-term effectiveness of vertebral manipulation for treating chronic low back pain and disability.

METHODS: Sixty-four patients were randomly assigned into two groups. One group received 4 true vertebral manipulations (VMG), and the other group received sham manipulations (sham-VMG) under the same conditions as for the first technique. Patients formulated assessments after the manipulations and 1 month later.

RESULTS: Sixty-four patients participated in the study. Patients receiving the true manipulations showed significant improvement in pain (visual analogic scale score decrease from 71.8+/-18.11 to 49.37+/-16.78; P<0.001) and function (Oswestry scale score decrease from 15.59+/-6.03 to 12.25+/-5.69; P<0.001). Pain improvement persisted at the second month (P=0.01). The improvement was more evident in the VMG than the sham-VMG. No change in perceived disability was observed in the sham-VMG.

CONCLUSION: Our study confirms the efficiency of short-term vertebral manipulation for treating chronic low back pain. The assessment of vertebral manipulation effectiveness is difficult. This manual therapy must be preceeded by a specific clinical exam performed by a trained physician.