Comparing the Effect of Chiropractic Manipulation and Spinal Decompression Device Treatment

This study is aimed to compare the effects of chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy and spinal decompression device treatment on lower extremity muscle strength, balance performance, lumbar range of motion and mobility, functional status, pain, and quality of life in patients with chronic low back pain. After the approval of the ethics committee, the research was carried out in the physical therapy and rehabilitation clinic of Medipol Mega University Hospital. Individuals between the ages of 18-60, who had complaints of low back pain for the last three months and who voluntarily agreed to participate in the study were included in the study. 40 participants with low back pain existing more than 3 months were randomized into one of two groups as Chiropractic Spinal Manipulative Therapy (CSMT) and Spinal Decompression (SD). Lumbar region chiropractic HVLA (High Velocity, Low Amplitude) spinal manipulation and/or sacroiliac joint chiropractic HVLA manipulation was applied to CSMT group, and lumbar region spinal decompression (traction) device therapy was applied to SD group, and as a standard of treatment was given a hot pack for 15 minutes before applying and a cold pack for 10 minutes after applying. Both groups were treated three times with an interval of three days. Before and after treatment were evaluated lower extremity (hamstring and quadriceps) muscle strength with an isokinetic dynamometer (CSMI Humac-Norm), balance performance with BBS (Biodex Balance System), lumbar range of motion and mobility with inclinometer and hand finger floor distance (HFFD), low back pain intensity with visual analog scale (VAS), functional status with Modified Oswestry low back pain disability questionnaire (OSW), quality of life with Short form-36 (SF-36) in both groups. SPPS 25 (IBM Corp. Released 2017. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 25.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.) version was used to analyze the data.