A descriptive study on the clinical effectiveness of chiropractics versus physical therapy for treatment of low back pain secondary to disc herniation among subjects aged 20 to 60 years

Date of Completion

2001

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy

Keywords

Low Back Pain, Physical Therapy, Hernia

Abstract

This study was conducted to provide awareness to the rehabilitative community of a choice of treatment for low back pain and to develop confidence and competence in providing quality health care service. This research was made to rate the clinical effectiveness of Chiropractic and PT treatment on low back pain patients secondary to disc herniation among patients aged 20-60. The research was conducted by disseminating interview schedules given to Chiropractic and PT clinics to assess, through subjective reports, the status of the patients pain symptoms, sensory status, and ADL status before treatment and at present status. The patients exclusion categories were that (1) these patients experience pain symptoms on the low back area, (2) the individual who has difficulty in performing ADL's such as self-care , mobility/transfers, and locomotion, (3) an individuals who displays neurological symptoms such as sensory deficits/impairments, (4) they have not received any Chiropractic or PT prior to receiving treatment for low back pain, (5) they have had the disease process for not less than two months, (6) that they were complaint with their treatment, whether Chiropractic Therapy treatment for no less than one month, and (8) these patients involved in Chiropractic treatment and ten patient involved in PT treatment. The results of the treatment showed that both disciplines improved the patients low back pain conditions. With regards to the pain intensity, it was found out that subjects who underwent Chiropractic treatment had a decrease in their pain scales by 62.5% whereas PT had only a 38% improvement or decrease in their pain scales. As to frequency pain, before receiving Chiropractic treatment and PT, there who reported feeling intermittent pain and for felt constant pain, and for the patients who felt intermittent pain, from three, it is increased to nine. As to frequency of pain, before receiving Chiropractic treatment and PT, there were seven patient who reported feeling constant pain and three patients who reported feeling intermittent pain and for PT treatment , of the seven who felt constant pain, only one patient felt constant pain, and for the patients who felt intermittent pain, from three, it is increased to nine. As to the quality of pain , before receiving Chiropractic treatment, there were (1) five patients who felt sharp and aching pain, (2) four patients who felt dull and aching pain;(3) one patients who felt gnawing pain. For the present status of patients receiving Chiropractic treatment, of the five who felt sharp and aching pain and the patient who reported feeling gnawing pain, the number was now decreased to zero patients; there were (1) five patients who felt a sharp and aching pain; (2) four patients who felt dull and aching pain; (3) one patient who felt gnawing pain. As to patients sensory status Chiropractic treatment improved by 5%, patients who underwent PT showed an increase by 5.125%. As to performance of self-care activities, patients who underwent PT treatment improved by 25%. As to mobility/transfer activities are concerned, patients enhance their performance of the said activities by 1.71%, whereas patients who underwent PT treatment improved performance of activities by 26.42%. As to performance of locomotion activities, patients who underwent Chiropractic treatment improved by 23.71%, whereas patients who underwent PT treatment improved by 9.57%. Based on the gathered, the researchers have found out that Chiropractic yielded a greater improvement or a greater decrease in the pain symptoms of the subjects and rendered a greater improvement as far as performance of locomotion is concerned. PT on the other hand rendered a greater improvement as far as sensory improvement, performance of self-care, and mobility/transfer activities is concerned. As the study is concerned with the subjective feedback from the subjects, this research therefore concluded that both Chiropractic and PT treatment are clinically effective in treating low back pain

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