Spinal Manipulation and Clinician-Supported Biopsychosocial Self-Management for Acute Back Pain

How effective are spinal manipulation and clinician-supported self-management relative to guideline-based medical care for adults with acute or subacute low back pain (LBP) at increased risk of chronicity?This randomized clinical trial found statistically significant but small differences between supported self-management and medical care for reducing disability over a follow-up time of 1 year. There were no differences between spinal manipulation and medical care for disability and no group differences in pain intensity.For acute or subacute LBP, clinician-supported self-management resulted in a small reduction in disability, but not pain, over a follow-up time of 1 year vs medical care; spinal manipulation showed no difference for either outcome.

Corresponding Author: Gert Bronfort, PhD, DC, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, 420 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455 (bronf003@umn.edu).

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