Effects of an osteopathic clinical based approach for the treatment of chronic non-specific low back pain in factory workers: A single cohort, pilot study

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Authors
Yardley, Simon
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Degree
Master of Osteopathy
Grantor
Unitec Institute of Technology
Date
2009
Supervisors
Stewart, Andrew
Fordy, Graham
Moran, Robert
Type
Masters Thesis
Ngā Upoko Tukutuku (Māori subject headings)
Keyword
chronic illnesses
low back pain
spinal manipulation
osteopathic medicine
manual therapy
Pasifika
Māori
ANZSRC Field of Research Code (2020)
Citation
Yardley, S. (2009). Effects of an osteopathic clinical based approach for the treatment of chronic non-specific low back pain in factory workers: A single cohort, pilot study. (Unpublished document submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Osteopathy). Unitec Institute of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10652/1388
Abstract
Background: Chronic Non specific Low Back Pain (NSLBP) is a large economic burden to the healthcare systems of western industrialized countries. Although studies have demonstrated the efficacy of spinal manipulative therapy for NSLBP, few studies have adopted a pragmatic approach using a wide range of techniques that would typically be employed in a clinical setting. Design: A homogenous sample of twenty, predominantly Maori and Pacific Islands factory workers gave informed consent. The participants took part in a single cohort pre/post repeated measures intervention over nine weeks. Outcome Measures: Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Quebec Back Pain Functional Disability Score (QBPDS), and short form 12 (SF12), completed at baseline, pre and post treatment, and one week follow up. Methods: Baseline subjective measures were recorded over five weeks. Three pragmatic-based osteopathic treatments, tailored to each participant, were administered once per week. Results: Intention to treat analysis of fifteen participants (67% male and 33% female, mean age 43.6 years), with a mean duration of chronic NSLBP of 6.6 years, showed a clinically relevant 20.1mm reduction in LBP intensity on VAS (95% CI = 8.5 to 18.1; p<0.0001). A 15.1 points fall in physical disability on QBPDS (95% CI = 6.29 to 16.1; p<0.001), and a 6 point increase in SF12 physical ability (95% CI = 45.3 to 52.5; p<0.004) were also clinically relevant. No substantial changes were found in mental health scores as measured by SF12 (p=0.323). Conclusion: Application of manual therapy techniques using a pragmatic osteopathic approach demonstrated a clinically relevant reduction in LBP intensity and physical disability in a population of Maori and Pacific Islands factory workers with chronic NSLBP.
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