• John C Licciardone, Cathleen M Kearns, and Dennis E Minotti.
• The Osteopathic Research Center, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA; Department of Medical Education, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA. Electronic address: john.licciardone@unthsc.edu.
• Man Ther. 2013 Dec 1; 18 (6): 533-40.

PurposeTo assess response to osteopathic manual treatment (OMT) according to baseline severity of chronic low back pain (LBP).MethodsThe OSTEOPATHIC Trial used a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled, 2×2 factorial design to study OMT for chronic LBP. A total of 269 (59%) patients reported low baseline pain severity (LBPS) (<50 mm/100 mm), whereas 186 (41%) patients reported high baseline pain severity (HBPS) (≥50 mm/100 mm). Six OMT sessions were provided over eight weeks and outcomes were assessed at week 12. The primary outcome was substantial LBP improvement (≥50% pain reduction). The Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) and eight other secondary outcomes were also studied. Response ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used in conjunction with Cochrane Back Review Group criteria to determine OMT effects.ResultsThere was a large effect size for OMT in providing substantial LBP improvement in patients with HBPS (RR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.36-3.05; P<0.001). This was accompanied by clinically important improvement in back-specific functioning on the RMDQ (RR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.08-3.01; P=0.02). Both RRs were significantly greater than those observed in patients with LBPS. Osteopathic manual treatment was consistently associated with benefits in all other secondary outcomes in patients with HBPS, although the statistical significance and clinical relevance of results varied.ConclusionsThe large effect size for OMT in providing substantial pain reduction in patients with chronic LBP of high severity was associated with clinically important improvement in back-specific functioning. Thus, OMT may be an attractive option in such patients before proceeding to more invasive and costly treatments.Copyright © 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

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