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. 2016;68(1):61-3.
doi: 10.3138/ptc.2014-58.

Mechanical Low Back Pain: Secular Trend and Intervention Topics of Randomized Controlled Trials

Greta Castellini  1 , Silvia Gianola  2 , Giuseppe Banfi  3 , Stefanos Bonovas  4 , Lorenzo Moja  5
Affiliations

Mechanical Low Back Pain: Secular Trend and Intervention Topics of Randomized Controlled Trials

Greta Castellini et al. Physiother Can. 2016.

Abstract
in English, French

Purpose: To evaluate the number of published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) focusing on mechanical low back pain (MLBP) rehabilitation, the secular (i.e., long-term) trend, and the distribution of interventions studied.

Methods: All included RCTs were extracted from all Cochrane systematic reviews focusing on rehabilitation therapies for MLBP, and two independent reviewers screened and analyzed the information on interventions.

Results: After removal of duplicates, the data set consisted of 196 RCTs published between 1961 and 2010. The number of RCTs published increased consistently over time: 2 trials (1% of the total) were published in 1961-1970, 10 (5%) in 1971-1980, 41 (21%) in 1981-1990, 68 (35%) in 1991-2000, and 75 (38%) in 2001-2010. The intervention of interest in the majority of RCTs was exercise therapy (115/399; 29%), followed by spinal manipulation therapies (60/399; 15%).

Conclusion: The number of RCTs focusing on MLBP has risen over time; of all interventions studied, exercise therapy has attracted the most research interest.

Objet : Évaluer le nombre d'essais contrôlés randomisés (ECR) publiés qui portent avant tout sur la réadaptation d'une lombalgie mécanique, la tendance séculaire (c. -à-d. à long terme) et la répartition des interventions étudiées. Méthodes : Tous les ECR inclus ont été extraits de toutes les critiques systématiques Cochrane portant avant tout sur les traitements de réadaptation de la lombalgie mécanique. Deux examinateurs indépendants ont filtré et analysé l'information portant sur les interventions. Résultats : Après l'élimination des doubles, l'ensemble de données consistait en 196 ECR publiés entre 1961 et 2010. Le nombre d'ECR publiés augmentait régulièrement avec le temps: 2 essais (1 % du total) ont été publiés de 1961 à 1970, 10 (5 %), de 1971 à 1980, 41 (21 %), de 1981 à 1990, 68 (35 %), de 1991 à 2000 et 75 (38 %), de 2001 à 2010. Dans la majorité des ECR, l'intervention d'intérêt était le traitement par l'exercice (n=115; 29 %), suivi des manipulations de la colonne (n=60; 15 %). Conclusion : Le nombre d'ECR portant avant tout sur la lombalgie mécanique a augmenté avec le temps. Sur toutes les interventions étudiées, l'exercice a attiré le plus d'intérêt en recherche.

Keywords: intervention studies; low back pain; randomized controlled trials as topic; rehabilitation.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Rehabilitation interventions for mechanical low back pain studied in published randomized controlled trials, 1961–2010.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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