Is there a subgroup of patients with low back pain likely to benefit from mechanical traction?
Fritz JM, Lindsay W, Matheson JW, Brennan GP, Hunter SJ, Moffit SD, Swalberg A, Rodriquez B Spine. 2007. 2007;32:E793-E800 Reviewed by Julia Chevan, PT, PhD, MPH, OCS (1-30-2008) Study Purpose: Although mechanical traction is not well supported in the empirical literature, it is still an intervention used by clinicians for patients who have back and leg symptoms that are not responsive to other interventions. This study examined if it is possible through a clinical trial to identify a subgroup of patients who have low back pain that respond in a favorable manner to an intervention that includes mechanical traction. Methods: This was a single-blind randomized clinical trial. The inclusion criteria stipulated that subjects were 18-60 years of age with symptoms of pain and/or numbness that extended distal to the buttock, an Oswestry score 30% and signs of nerve root deficit. There were two treatment groups into which subjects were randomized. The 33 subjects in the extension group receive
