The AAO Journal, 2007/12, 17(4):11-21, type of study: ,ret,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Free full text   (https://www.academyofosteopathy.org/aaoj)

Keywords:

acute low back pain [15]
acupuncture [58]
case report [736]
OMT [3925]
osteopathic manipulative treatment [3946]
retrospective study [339]
somatic dysfunction [159]

Abstract:

Background: Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) and acupuncture can be used as treatment modalities for acute low back pain. They may be used alone or in combination. There have not been any studies to determine if, during the same treatment session, using one before the other is more effective. Objective: To determine if there is any difference in relief of acute, mechanical low back pain if OMT is followed by acupuncture or if acupuncture is followed by OMT during the same treatment session. Design, Setting, and Patients: A retrospective two-year case study of 30 patients seen in the author’s private practice for acute, mechanical low back pain of less than six months. Intervention: All treatments included both OMT and acupuncture. Fifteen patients received OMT followed by acupuncture. The other group received acupuncture followed by OMT during the same session. All treatment sessions lasted 30 minutes, once a week for four weeks. Main Outcome Measure: Patients reported pain levels before the first treatment and at the end of the last (fourth) treatment, using a simple 0-10 pain scale. Results: Both groups showed similar beginning and ending pain scale values. They also showed nearly identical improvement. Conclusion: OMT and acupuncture during the same session for acute mechanical low back pain over four weekly sessions resulted in significant lessening of symptoms. The order in which OMT and acupuncture were done did not result in any difference in pain symptom outcome between the two groups.