THE EFFICACY OF TRACTION FOR LUMBAR BACK PAIN - DESIGN OF A RANDOMIZED CLINICAL-TRIAL

Objective: To present the design of a trial on the efficacy of lumbar traction. Design: Randomized clinical trial. Patients: Patients with a minimum of 6 wk, nonspecific low back pain. Intervention: High-dose, motorized, continuous traction with a force between 35% and 50% of the total body weight was compared with sham or low-dose traction with a force between 0 and 20% of body weight. The sham traction was given wi th a specially developed brace that becomes tighter in the back during traction. This is experienced by patients as if traction were exerted . Outcome Measures: Primary measures were the patient's global impress ion of the effect and the severity of three main complaints. Secondary effect measures were functional status, pain, range of motion, work a bsence and recurrences. The effect measures were rated before randomiz ation and 4 wk, 12 wk and 6 months later. Conclusion: There have been a number of earlier trials on the efficacy of lumbar traction; they su ffer, however, from severe methodological flaws. This trial aimed to a void these shortcomings.