The effect of visceral osteopathic manual therapy applications on pain, quality of life and function in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain
Affiliations: Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Özlem Ülger, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. Tel.: +90 312 3051577; E-mail:ozlemulger@yahoo.com
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The efficacy of osteopathic manual therapy (OMT)
applications on chronic nonspecific low back pain (LBP) has been
demonstrated. However, visceral applications, which are an important part of
OMT techniques, have not been included in those studies.
OBJECTIVE: The study's objective was to determine the effect of OMT
including visceral applications on the function and quality of life (QoL) in
patients with chronic nonspecific LBP.
DESIGN: The study was designed with a simple method of block
randomization.
METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with chronic nonspecific LBP were
included in the study. OMT group consisted of 19 patients to whom OMT and
exercise methods were applied. The visceral osteopathic manual therapy
(vOMT) group consisted of 20 patients to whom visceral applications were
applied in addition to the applications carried out in the other group. Ten
sessions were performed over a two-week period. Pain (VAS), function
(Oswestry Index) and QoL (SF-36) assessments were carried out before the
treatment and on the sixth week of treatment.
RESULTS: Both of the treatments were found to be effective on pain
and function, physical function, pain, general health, social function of
the QoL sub-parameter. vOMT was effective on all sub-QoL parameters
(p<0.05). Comparing the groups, it was determined that the energy and
physical limitations of the QoL scores in vOMT were higher (p< 0.05).
CONCLUSION:Visceral applications on patients with non-specific LBP
gave positive results together with OMT and exercise methods. We believe
that visceral fascial limitations, which we think cause limitations and pain
in the lumbar segment, should be taken into consideration.
