Can a Single Trial of a Thoracolumbar Myofascial Release Technique Reduce Pain and Disability in Chronic Low Back Pain? A Randomized Balanced Crossover Study

Abstract

Although manual therapy for pain relief has been used as an adjunct in treatments for chronic low back pain (CLBP), there is still the belief that a single session of myofascial release would be effective. This study was a crossover clinical trial aimed to investigate whether a single session of a specific myofascial release technique reduces pain and disability in subjects with CLBP. 41 participants over 18 years old were randomly enrolled into 3 situations in a balanced and crossover manner: experimental, placebo, and control. The subjects underwent a single session of myofascial release on thoracolumbar fascia and the results were compared with the control and placebo groups. The outcomes, pain and functionality, were evaluated using the numerical pain rating scale (NPRS), pressure pain threshold (PPT), and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). There were no effects between-tests, within-tests, nor for interaction of all the outcomes, i.e., NPRS (η 2 = 0.32, F = 0.48, p = 0.61), PPT (η2 = 0.73, F = 2.80, p = 0.06), ODI (η2 = 0.02, F = 0.02, p = 0.97). (4) Conclusion: A single trial of a thoracolumbar myofascial release technique was not enough to reduce pain intensity and disability in subjects with CLBP.

Placebo analgesia in physical and psychological interventions: Systematic review and meta‐analysis of three‐armed trials

“…The characteristics of the 17 meta‐analysed studies are summarized in Table 1 and the text below. One trial (Paulo et al., 2021) was a cross‐over design, all others were parallel‐group RCTs. Most trials (84%) were single‐centre trials.…”

“…Participants were reported as supposed to be blinded to group allocation in nine control intervention arms (53%) (Amirova et al, 2017;Bialosky et al, 2014;Cerritelli et al, 2015;Chaibi et al, 2017;Ince et al, 2023;Loose et al, 2021;Moraska et al, 2017;Schmidt et al, 2011;Sisman & Arslan, 2022). Blinding was not an objective in five control intervention arms (29%) (Ashar et al, 2022;Hasuo et al, 2022;Krauß et al, 2014;Ozgul et al, 2023;Paulo et al, 2021), one of which only blinded participants to another active comparator, not the main investigational treatment (Krauß et al, 2014). Blinding information could not be obtained for another three trials (18%) (Allen et al, 2010;Hensel et al, 2015;Licciardone et al, 2010).…”

Label-free SERS ultrasensitive and universal detection of low back pain fingerprint based on SERS substrate

“…7 When TLF occurs, it causes LBP and affects the movement and sensory function of the body. 8,9 Although there have been many studies on the mechanism and pathological changes of TLF, the understanding of TLF is not sufficient.…”

The short-term effect of a myofascial protocol versus light touch applied to the cervical spine towards the prevention of balance disorders in the elderly: protocol of a randomised controlled trial

“…However, there is no consensus on the frequency or number of treatments necessary with MFR, regardless of the reason for which they are used, for example: chronic low back pain, fibromyalgia, functional capacities… [39,40]. Whatever the modality of application (massage or osteopathic manual therapy) or location (lower limb or trunk) it seems that only one MFR session have a limited or even non-existent effect on balance [41,42] while recent studies have shown that two sessions can [43,44].…”