Efficacy of conventional physiotherapy and manipulative physiotherapy in the treatment of low back pain. A randomised controlled trial

ISRCTN	ISRCTN47636118
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN47636118
Protocol serial number	711003
Sponsor	Hong Kong Health Services Research Fund (Hong Kong)
Funder	Hong Kong Health Services Research Fund (Hong Kong)

Submission date: 10/10/2002
Registration date: 10/10/2002
Last edited: 01/07/2009

Recruitment status: No longer recruiting
Overall study status: Completed
Condition category: Musculoskeletal Diseases

Prospectively registered

Protocol

Statistical analysis plan

Results

Individual participant data

Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Not provided at time of registration

Contact information

Dr ASL Leung
Scientific

Department of Rehabilitation Sciences
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
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Hong Kong

Study information

Primary study design	Interventional
Study design	Randomised controlled trial
Secondary study design	Randomised controlled trial
Scientific title
Study objectives	The objective of this trial was to compare the relative effectiveness of two common forms of physiotherapy: 1. Conventional Physiotherapy (CPT): consists of the use of electrical current, heat, cold, exercise and massage, and 2. Manipulative Physiotherapy (MPT): primarily consists of passive joint mobilisation and manipulative techniques, in the short and long term.
Ethics approval(s)	Not provided at time of registration
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied	Low back pain
Intervention	Subjects will be randomised into either the CPT or MPT groups: 1. CPT includes modalities such as heat and cold therapy, nerve stimulation, active exercises, hydrotherapy, etc. 2. MPT includes manual techniques such as passive mobilization and manipulative high velocity thrusts. Patients in both groups also received lumbar traction.
Intervention type	Other
Primary outcome measure(s)	The main outcome measures were disability, health and pain. These parameters were assessed by the: 1. Aberdeen Low Back Pain Disability Scale 2. Current Perceived Health 42 (CPH42) Profile 3. Numerical Pain Scale (NRS). The NRS measures pain intensity from no pain to intolerable pain along an 11-point scale. The research assistants, who were blind to the treatment routine administered the questionnaires at baseline, then at 3, 6, and 12 weeks (short term) followed by 6, 9, 12 months (long term) after physiotherapy commenced.
Key secondary outcome measure(s)	Not provided at time of registration
Completion date	01/09/2002

Eligibility

Participant type(s)	Patient
Age group	Adult
Lower age limit	18 Years
Sex	All
Target sample size at registration	440
Key inclusion criteria	1. Patients are medically referred 2. Patients presented no contraindication to Conventional physiotherapy (CPT) and Manipulative (MPT) physiotherapy 3. Aged 18 to 65 years 4. Low back pain (LBP) not treated by physiotherapist in the previous month 5. Duration of LBP at least 2 weeks before attending physiotherapy 6. Patient's consent to participate in the randomised controlled trial 7. Patient's agreement to be followed up to 12 months post-commencement of treatment
Key exclusion criteria	Does not meet inclusion criteria
Date of first enrolment	01/01/2000
Date of final enrolment	01/09/2002

Locations

Countries of recruitment

Hong Kong

Study participating centre

Department of Rehabilitation Sciences

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-
Hong Kong

Results and Publications

Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share	No
IPD sharing plan summary	Not provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan