Manual Therapies for Low Back Pain

A myofascial trigger point is a hyperirritable spot found in skeletal muscle that is associated with chronic pain conditions, including chronic low back pain. In this study, researchers compared the effect of three manual therapies—manual pressure release, strain counter strain, and integrated neuromuscular inhibition technique—on 48 patients with chronic low back pain and observed that each was effective at deactivating trigger points and improving low back pain and disability. Doctors of chiropractic often incorporate several manual therapy interventions when treating patients with chronic low back pain, depending on the patient’s unique case and needs. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, February 2020