Osteopathic manipulative therapy in nonspecific low back pain

literature review

Abstract

Low back pain (LBP) is defined as a pain located below the costal margin and above the gluteal folds. The term nonspecific is applied to whatever presents tension, pain, or rigidity in such area where the specific cause of pain is not identifiable. There are various options of treatment to face the nonspecific LBP. Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is one option of treatment. The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) recommends osteopaths to use OMT in the care of patients with LBP. The aim of that study is to carry out a review of the literature to evaluate the efficacy of OMT in nonspecific LBP in people over 18 years of age, also including the condition of pregnancy and postpartum as a subgroup. We included scientific studies that deal with OMT in nonspecific LBP, as well as pregnant and postpartum women as a subgroup. Papers that we selected for this review are in Spanish and/or English and have been published in the last 10 years. 11 research papers were included out of a total of 124 articles. Most of these included pain and disability as the main of variables. The results were heterogeneous. As regards nonspecific LBP low back pain, a systematic review with meta-analysis and two clinical trials presented favorable results in relation to pain as respects of OMT. In relation to the subgroup of pregnant women, most of the studies show positive effects when comparing OMT and usual obstetric care (UOC) with the waiting list or UOC only. This was not the case when compared to a placebo treatment. Studies have been found that demonstrate the efficacy of treatment with OMT in patients with nonspecific low back pain, and studies that show favorable effects of treatment with OMT in pregnant and postpartum women. The studies that have been found are of low methodological quality with a sample small and the treatments, for the most part, do not have a detailed description.