Spinal manipulation therapy plus home exercises is more effective than home exercises alone for treating back-related leg pain, according to a study in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Nearly 200 patients with subacute or chronic back-related leg pain were randomized to either spinal manipulation plus home exercises and advice or home exercises and advice alone for 12 weeks. For the spinal manipulation intervention, patients could receive as many as 20 sessions tailored to their individual needs and focused on manual techniques. The home exercise and advice intervention consisted of four one-on-one sessions that helped patients manage pain and prevent recurrence, with instructions to exercise daily.
At 12 weeks, the primary outcome — patient-rated leg pain during the past week — was 10 percentage points lower in the spinal manipulation group, a difference the authors say was “clinically important.” That advantage disappeared by 52 weeks.
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