Effect of osteopathic manipulative treatment on pain, flexibility, autonomic modulation of heart rate, energy and thermal profile in patients with chronic low back pain. blind randomized clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is the most common symptom experienced in all ages, being related to incapacity, reduction of life and work quality, having a complex and challenging treatment approach. Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) proposes a global manual intervention in chronic pain.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate OMT effects on pain, flexibility, autonomic nervous system, energetic and thermal profile in chronic low back pain.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Pain was evaluated by the visual analogue scale (VAS) and algometry, flexibility by the Wells bench, thermal profile of the lumbar spine by infrared thermography, autonomic modulation by heart rate variability (HRV), and the energetic profile by bioelectrography. Osteopathic manipulative treatment group (OMTG) was submitted to three sessions based on osteopathic evaluation and reevaluated immediately after the first session and one week after the last session. The placebo group (PG) got a simulated TENS for the same period.

RESULTS

A significant interaction was observed (ANOVA) between group x time for the flexibility (F = 7.5; p = 0.001) and VAS (F = 2.8; p = 0.05), low frequency (F = 3.5; p = 0.04), low frequency/high frequency (F = 3.6; p = 0.04) and total energy (F = 4.4; p = 0.01). A significant increase of flexibility, EVA, L3 algometry and total energy was observed after the intervention for OMTG. Significant reduction of low frequency (LF) and low frequency/high frequency (LF/HF) post-intervention for OMTG.

CONCLUSION

OMT showed positive effects for pain reducing, increasing flexibility, parasympathetic activities and total energy in patients with CLBP.