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Recommendations of the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research on spinal manipulation for low back problems in adults* |
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| Recommendation |
Rating |
Level of evidence |
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| Manipulation can be helpful for patients with acute low back problems without radiculopathy when used within the first month of symptoms. |
B |
Moderate research-based evidence |
| When findings suggest progressive or severe neurologic deficits, an appropriate diagnostic assessment to rule out serious neurologic conditions is indicated before beginning manipulation therapy. |
D |
Panel interpretation of information that did not meet inclusion criteria as research-based evidence |
| There is insufficient evidence to recommend manipulation for patients with radiculopathy. |
C |
Limited research-based evidence |
| A trial of manipulation in patients without radiculopathy with symptoms longer than one month is probably safe, but efficacy is unproven. |
C |
Limited research-based evidence |
| If manipulation has not resulted in symptomatic improvement that allows increased function after one month of treatment, manipulation therapy should be stopped and the patient re-evaluated. |
D |
Panel interpretation of information that did not meet inclusion criteria as research-based evidence |
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*Based on reference 6 | ||
Licciardone Osteopathic Medicine and Primary Care 2007 1:7 doi:10.1186/1750-4732-1-7 |
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