Abstract
Summary This pilot study for a randomised clinical trial compares the effect of high-dose continuous lumbar traction and low-dose continuous lumbar traction on the magnitude and rate of recovery for patients with low back pain. A motorised traction force of 44% of the body weight was applied in the treatment group (n=13) and of 19% in the control group (n=12). Both groups were comparable before randomised treatment allocation. The patients were blinded successfully. The results for most outcome measures favoured high dose traction, treatment versus control group: 64% v 34% at five weeks, and 45% v 25% at nine weeks. These results are clinically substantial but do not reach statistical significance (95% confidence intervals include zero). Due to the small number of patients this study lacks power, therefore the 95% confidence intervals are very wide. With 50 patients in each group the 95% confidence intervals at five weeks would have excluded zero.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
