Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics
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J Manipulative Physiol Ther · May 1999
Review Case ReportsManagement of acute lumbar disk herniation initially presenting as mechanical low back pain.
To describe the clinical management with spinal manipulation of a male patient with risk factors for lumbar disk herniation initially suffering from what appeared to be mechanical low back pain that evolved into radiculopathy; also to review issues pertinent to chiropractic/manipulative management of disk herniation. ⋯ Risk factors for the development of disk herniation should be considered when assessing patients suffering from what appears to be mechanical low back pain. The role played by manipulation in the development of disk herniation in this case was believed to be circumstantial rather than causal. Manipulation was used in the treatment of this patient over a period of approximately 2 months; after this time, clinical and partial computed tomography imaging resolution was evident. Ongoing clinical (neurologic) evaluation of patients with manifest or suspected disk herniation is an important aspect of management. Good-quality trials of manipulation for patients with disk herniation are imperative for the chiropractic profession.