Manipulation and mobilization for treating chronic low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background context: Mobilization and manipulation therapies are widely used to benefit patients with chronic low back pain. However, questions remain about their efficacy, dosing, safety, and how these approaches compare with other therapies.

Purpose: The present study aims to determine the efficacy, effectiveness, and safety of various mobilization and manipulation therapies for treatment of chronic low back pain.

Study design/setting: This is a systematic literature review and meta-analysis.

Outcome measures: The present study measures self-reported pain, function, health-related quality of life, and adverse events.

Methods: We identified studies by searching multiple electronic databases from January 2000 to March 2017, examining reference lists, and communicating with experts. We selected randomized controlled trials comparing manipulation or mobilization therapies with sham, no treatment, other active therapies, and multimodal therapeutic approaches. We assessed risk of bias using Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network criteria. Where possible, we pooled data using random-effects meta-analysis. Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) was applied to determine the confidence in effect estimates. This project is funded by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health under Award Number U19AT007912.

Results: Fifty-one trials were included in the systematic review. Nine trials (1,176 patients) provided sufficient data and were judged similar enough to be pooled for meta-analysis. The standardized mean difference for a reduction of pain was SMD=-0.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.47 to -0.09, p=.004; I²=57% after treatment; within seven trials (923 patients), the reduction in disability was SMD=-0.33, 95% CI -0.63 to -0.03, p=.03; I²=78% for manipulation or mobilization compared with other active therapies. Subgroup analyses showed that manipulation significantly reduced pain and disability, compared with other active comparators including exercise and physical therapy (SMD=-0.43, 95% CI -0.86 to 0.00; p=.05, I²=79%; SMD=-0.86, 95% CI -1.27 to -0.45; p<.0001, I²=46%). Mobilization interventions, compared with other active comparators including exercise regimens, significantly reduced pain (SMD=-0.20, 95% CI -0.35 to -0.04; p=.01; I²=0%) but not disability (SMD=-0.10, 95% CI -0.28 to 0.07; p=.25; I²=21%). Studies comparing manipulation or mobilization with sham or no treatment were too few or too heterogeneous to allow for pooling as were studies examining relationships between dose and outcomes. Few studies assessed health-related quality of life. Twenty-six of 51 trials were multimodal studies and narratively described.

Conclusion: There is moderate-quality evidence that manipulation and mobilization are likely to reduce pain and improve function for patients with chronic low back pain; manipulation appears to produce a larger effect than mobilization. Both therapies appear safe. Multimodal programs may be a promising option.

Keywords: Chiropractic; Chronic low back pain; Manipulation; Meta-analysis; Mobilization; Systematic review.

Fig. 1

Search strategy. Note: Figure 1 addresses search strategy for low back pain as well as neck pain studies. The findings of neck pain studies are not reported here. Because the Center of Excellence for Research in CAM (CERC) project was focused on both chronic neck pain as well as chronic low back pain, the search was executed to meet both needs together to streamline the effort.

Fig. 2

Flow of included studies. CCT, controlled clinical trial; CLBP, chronic low back pain; OBS, observational studies; RCT, randomized controlled trial.

Fig. 3

Reduction in pain.

Fig. 4

Reduction in disability.