Unpublished MSc thesis, Wiener Schule für Osteopathie, 2007/01, 103, type of study: ,cct,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Free full text   (https://www.osteopathicresearch.org/s/orw/item/3053)

Keywords:

disc disorders [1]
sciatica [15]
WSO [508]

Abstract:

Background and purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the efficiency of Osteoapthic treatment in cases of lumbar disc herniation. In the study it was examined whether surgery can be avoided in patients with lumbar disc herniation with osteopathic treatment and whether the clinical condition can be changed in a positive way. In comparison a group that received physiotherapeutic treatment was examined as well. In this group the emphasis was on stabilisation and strengthening exercises.Subjects: 13 subjects were treated in the experimental group, 11 acted as controls and had physiotherapeutical treatment. In all patients a herniated disc or a disc protrusion had to be diagnosed. The diagnosis had to be proved by a computer tomogram (CT) or by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).Methods: A controlled clinical trial (pretest-posttest control group design) was used to evaluate possible differences due to several clinical outcome measures (dependent variables) such as: pain, finger-floor-distance, standing on one leg (test of proprioceptive skills), straight leg raising test and test of reflexes (patellar reflex and ankle jerk). Results: To test the significance of changes within the test group and between test group and control group the t-test was used. On the whole, the test group - in spite of a shorter period of treatment and less units of therapy - produced significantly better results. A decisive significance showed in the parameter pain. In the test group an average improvement by 4-5 points on the scale (on a scale from 1 to 6) could be observed (p<0.001) while in the control group the improvement amounted to only two points on the scale. Altogether, the statistical evaluation shows strong positive effects of osteopathic treatment in patients with lumbar disc herniation. Conclusion and Discussion: In view of these results the first hypothesis that osteopathic treatment improves the clinic in patients with a lumbar disc herniation could be confirmed. Our findings prove clearly that osteopathic treatment is successful regarding the examined symptom. In practice the treatment could be extended by adding exercises for stabilisation and strengthening to osteopathic treatment.