The effect of low back manipulation compared to combined low back and hip manipulation for the treatment of chronic non-specific low back pain
Authors:   , Roberts Jesse Bruins 
Published: October 2021

Background: Chronic non-specific low back pain (CNSLBP) is a common ailment treated by chiropractors. Most chiropractors focus on the localised lumbar area of pain. Other chiropractors focus on restoring function to compensating articulations in the ‗full kinematic chain‘ by assessing and treating the lower extremity in conjunction to the low back. Patients with LBP often exhibit decreased hip-related ranges of motion that may result in future LBP, relapse and a prolonged recovery time. Studies investigating the effect of treating the kinematic chain in relation to LBP are limited and the literature, although widely taught and practiced, is largely anecdotal. Chiropractic manipulation has shown to be effective in the treatment of LBP and many lower extremity conditions. Objectives: This study set out to determine if a combination of low back and hip manipulation would result in a more beneficial outcome for the participant, suffering with CNSLBP, than low back manipulation alone in terms of objective and subjective outcomes. Method: The study was a randomised controlled clinical trial which, through purposive sampling, consisted of 50 participants with CNSLBP and hip joint dysfunction. The participants were randomly divided into two groups of 25 each [A and B]. Group A received low back manipulation alone and Group B received combined low back and hip manipulation. Subjective data was obtained through the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Index (ODI) and the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). Objective data was obtained through the use of a Force Dial Algometer and an Inclinometer. Data collection occurred at the first, third and fifth consultations and was coded and analysed using IBM SPSS version 24.0. A p-value value of less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically relevant. Results: Intra-group testing showed that there was a significant difference over time, within both groups, with regards to internal rotation and external rotation of the hip, flexion of the lumbar spine, increased pain tolerance in Algometer tests, decreased NPRS values and decreased ODI scores. Within Group A, the mean scores for hip flexion reflected a more significant increase over time than those of Group B. Within Group B, the mean scores for left and right rotation of the lumbar spine reflected a more significant change over time than those of Group A. Inter-group testing showed no significantly differential treatment effect for any of the subjective and objective outcomes. This means that both treatments were equally effective and the hypothesis, that suggested that Group B would improve more than Group A, was incorrect. Conclusion: Both treatment groups improved subjectively and objectively with regards to CNSLBP. Inter-group testing showed that statistically, and for all outcome measurements, there were no significant differences between the two treatment group‘s results. This suggested that there was no additional benefit in combining hip joint manipulation with low back manipulation in the treatment of CNSLBP.