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Manual and manipulation techniques for rheumatic disease
Justus J Fiechtner1, Raymond R Brodeur
1Division of Rheumatology, Michigan State University, Colleges of Osteopathic and Human Medicine, East Lansing, Michigan, USA. jfiechtner@pol.net
The Medical Clinics of North America
|January 25, 2002
Summary
Manual therapy shows benefits for back and neck pain, particularly when used alongside other treatments. More research is needed to understand its exact healing mechanisms and improve clinical trial designs.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Physical Medicine
- Rehabilitation
Background:
- Manual therapy is frequently sought for musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction.
- Limited insurance coverage exists for manual therapy despite patient demand.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of manual therapy for musculoskeletal disorders and arthritis.
- To synthesize findings from existing clinical studies on manual therapy efficacy.
Main Methods:
- Review and analysis of studies summarized in Table 1.
- Assessment of evidence comparing manual therapy to placebo, no treatment, and other interventions.
Main Results:
- Manual techniques demonstrate benefits for back and neck pain compared to placebo or no treatment.
- Evidence does not show clear superiority of manual therapy over physical therapy, education, or exercise.
- Manual therapy appears most useful as an adjunct to comprehensive treatment programs.
Conclusions:
- Manual therapy has a role in managing painful musculoskeletal conditions, especially for pain relief and enhancing exercise tolerance.
- Further research is required to elucidate the mechanisms of manual therapy and resolve discrepancies in clinical trial outcomes.