A French study examined for the first time the efficacy of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) compared to sham treatment in patients with nonspecific low back pain (LBP). Six sessions of OMT over a 3-month period led to a significant reduction in activity limitations related to low back pain, but not to a reduction in pain.
If you are interested in the exact data:
Methods:
A prospective, parallel, blinded, sham-controlled study design was used. A total of 200 participants were randomly assigned to the OMT intervention group and 200 to the sham treatment group. The primary endpoint was the mean reduction in LBP-specific activity limitations after 3 months, measured using the Quebec Back Pain Disability Index. Secondary endpoints were mean changes in pain intensity and health-related quality of life, number and duration of sick leave, number of LBP episodes after 12 months, and consumption of analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs after 3 and 12 months. Adverse events were self-reported after 3, 6, and 12 months. OMT included treatment of the lumbar spine joints, temporomandibular and talocrural joints, and the diaphragm.
Results:
Compared to sham treatment, the application of OMT had a small effect on LBP-specific activity limitations after 3 and 12 months in patients with nonspecific subacute or chronic LBP. Furthermore, no serious adverse events related to OMT were observed. It should be noted that LBP-specific activity limitations increased in both groups during the study period, but to a lesser extent in the OMT group. At the beginning of the study, these were still minimal, which could explain the relatively small magnitude of the effects. Nevertheless, OMT had a positive impact on patients with nonspecific low back pain, suggesting that they can benefit from six OMT sessions at two-week intervals (Nguyen et al. 2021). Nguyen C, Boutron I, Zegarra-Parodi R, et al. Effect of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment vs Sham Treatment on Activity Limitations in Patients with Nonspecific Subacute and Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med.
