Effectiveness of chiropractic modality on chronic low back pain patients, A quasi-experimental study

Abstract

BackgroundLow back pain (LBP) is one of the most prevalent diseases in the developed and developing countries, which imposes high socioeconomic burden on both the individual and the community. There are limited studies that explain the clinically meaningful impact of chiropractic modality in chronic LBP.MethodThis is a quasi-experimental study. Participants were patients who had referred to Shiraz private chiropractic clinics with more than three month chronic LBP and had no pathologic abnormalities. Data were collected in two stages, baseline visit and 8 weeks after treatment. The effect of intervention measured throughout three questionnaire including Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and self-assessment Global Rating of Change (GRC) questionnaires.Result141 patients analyzed, the mean age of participants was 40.18 ± 10.42 years of old and 40 (28.4%) were male. The mean duration of LBP was 56.73 ± 45.11 months. Before and after intervention, based on RMDQ and NRS data, indicated that the mean difference ± Standard Deviation was 5.54 ± 4.95 and 2.44 ± 1.64 the statistically significant difference (P < 0.001) and (P < 0.001) among all demographic and clinical characteristic variables, except job status. The mean ± SD of GRC was 56.13 ± 33.03%. Based on the RMDQ cut-off point, 88 participants (62%; 95% CI: 50–70) have been affected by chiropractic with a clinically meaningful effect. In addition, the chiropractic may be an effective therapeutic modality in treating patients with mild, moderate, or even severe MRI findings.ConclusionComplementary chiropractic treatment amongst chronic LBP patients may be an appropriate adjuvant to conventional treatments to improve disability and pain intensity reduction in both genders.