The objective evaluation of effectiveness of manual treatment of spinal function disturbances

BACKGROUND: The aim of this paper is the evaluation of effectiveness of manual therapy in the treatment of functional disturbances of the spine. MATERIAL/METHODS: The study subjects were 40 persons aged 45–60 years, in whom degenerative changes in intervertebral discs and physical limitations within the spine were found (NMR), which were manifested as pain. Subjects were randomly divided into 2 groups of 20 persons each. The first group went on a monthly rehabilitation tour, where the manual therapy methods were applied. The second group was treated by means of physical methods. In order to verify the results of effectiveness of the therapies, the examination of the sectional mobility and the evaluation of the spinal curvatures before and after the completion of the therapy were made by means of a tensiometric electrogoniometer. RESULTS: The percentage differences in significance result from the lower value of parameter t(1) in the group of persons treated physically. The dynamics of changes in the parameters in the sectional mobility in both tested groups was highest in the cervical and lumbar spine. The manually treated group had greater dynamics of changes in functional parameters of the spine. CONCLUSIONS: Manual therapy is an effective method for treatment of functional changes and early structural changes within the spine, and may be used as supplementary therapy in relation to the standard model of treatment of spinal pain.