In 2007, Ghroubi, et. al., conducted study about Chronic low back pain (CLBP) which presents a significant challenge in healthcare, prompting exploration into various treatment modalities. Among these, vertebral manipulation (VM) has gained attention for its potential therapeutic benefits. This study aimed to evaluate the short-term effectiveness of VM in alleviating CLBP and associated disability.

In this randomized controlled trial, sixty-four CLBP patients were randomly allocated into two groups: one receiving true vertebral manipulations (VMG) and the other receiving sham manipulations (sham-VMG). Both groups underwent respective interventions under identical conditions. Patients provided assessments immediately post-manipulation and one month later.

All sixty-four patients completed the study. Those receiving true manipulations exhibited significant improvements in pain, as evidenced by a decrease in visual analog scale (VAS) scores from 71.8+/-18.11 to 49.37+/-16.78 (P<0.001), and in function, with Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores decreasing from 15.59+/-6.03 to 12.25+/-5.69 (P<0.001). Pain relief persisted at the one-month follow-up (P=0.01). Notably, the VMG group demonstrated more pronounced improvements compared to the sham-VMG group. Conversely, no significant change in perceived disability was observed in the sham-VMG cohort.

This study provides further evidence supporting the efficacy of short-term vertebral manipulation in managing CLBP. However, the assessment of VM effectiveness remains complex and warrants careful consideration. It emphasizes the importance of conducting a thorough clinical examination by a trained physician prior to administering manual therapy such as VM. These findings contribute to the ongoing discourse on effective management strategies for CLBP, highlighting the potential role of VM in alleviating symptoms and enhancing patient well-being.

Reference: Ghroubi, S., Elleuch, H., Baklouti, S., & Elleuch, M. H. (2007, March). Chronic low back pain and vertebral manipulation. In Annales de readaptation et de medecine physique: revue scientifique de la Societe francaise de reeducation fonctionnelle de readaptation et de medecine physique (Vol. 50, No. 7, pp. 570-576).