Visceral Mobilization as Management Option for Low Back Pain - A Systematic Review

Abstract

OBJECTIVE This systematic review is to evaluate the impact of visceral mobilization or manipulation in improving low back pain via standard protocols. MATERIALS AND METHODS Literature was searched electronically on various databases such as PEDro, PubMed Central, Google Scholar, BioMed Central, MEDLINE, EMBASE and Science Direct considering duration of 2011 to 2019. Randomized Controlled Trials investigating effectiveness of visceral manipulation or mobilization, either, in the comparison with different modalities or with sham/placebo were included. Data was extracted and studies were reviewed on standardized qualitative assessment criteria. Cochrane guidelines were followed to find out the risk of bias among the included studies. RESULTS All the studies provided moderate to high quality evidence in favor of visceral mobilization or manipulation being effective on low back pain in terms of risk of bias and quality assessment with significant results (p-value <0.05). CONCLUSION The available studies provided the significant and strong effectiveness of visceral manipulation and mobilization. However, scarcity of literature in domain raises an inevitable need for further studies to be conducted in future.