Effects of physical therapy treatments with and without spinal mobilization in individuals with acute nonspecific low back pain: A randomized trial

The benefits of spinal mobilization in low back pain were claimed in pain reduction and movement promotion.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of physical therapy treatments combined with spinal mobilization in individuals with acute nonspecific low back pain (LBP).

Fifty subjects were randomized to a physical therapy treatments group (CON group) or a mobilization with physical therapy treatments group (MOB) group. The treatment program lasted 6 weeks maximum on a twice weekly basis. Pain, active range of motion (AROM), disability, and change at the beginning of treatment (except change), 1 week, after treatment, and 3-month follow-up were assessed.

The subjects in each group had significant improvement in pain, AROM, disability, and change (p<0.05) but betweengroups differences were not found.

The study showed the effects of treatments in both groups but there was no difference between the groups in any parameters. Further study, it is interesting to study the effects of spinal mobilization in individuals with LBP and obvious stiffness.