The relative effectiveness of manipulation used in conjunction with a non-stabilising sacroiliac orthotic versus manipulation used in conjunction with a stabilising sacroiliac orthotic in the treatment of sacroiliac syndrome

Abstract

There has previously been a significant number of clinical trials supporting the efficacy of manipulation for the treatment of low back pain. In addition, the use of manipulation for the treatment of sacroiliac syndrome is well recognised. However, the management protocols involving the use of orthotics, used alone, or in combination with manipulation were found to be controversial. Orthotics seem to be frequently used in the clinical setting and yet there is a paucity of controlled clinical research advocating their application. The aim of this study was to determine the relative effectiveness of chiropractic manipulation used in combination with a non-stabilising sacroiliac orthotic (strapping) versus chiropractic manipulation used in combination with a stabilising sacroiliac orthotic in the treatment of sacroiliac syndrome. It was hypothesised that both treatment protocols would be effective in the management of sacroiliac syndrome, and that manipulation used in combination with a stabilising sacroiliac orthotic over a two week period would be more effective than manipulation used in combination with a non-stabilising sacroiliac orthotic, in terms of subjective and objective clinical f-Indings. The study design chosen was a comparative, randomised, controlled clinical trial. Sixty consecutive patients diagnosed with sacroiliac syndrome were randomly assigned either to the group receiving manipulation used in combination with a non-stabilising sacroiliac orthotic or the group receiving manipulation used in combination with a stabilising sacroiliac orthotic. The age range of patients extencled from eighteen to forty-nine, and included thirty-one males and thirty-three females. Statistically patients\x8F\x8F