Manual therapy in lumbovertebral syndromes

Based upon the shortly presented survey among the members of the Swiss Medi cal Association for Manual Medicine, the low back pain problems are approac hed by the means of manual therapy on average 805 times per year and physic ian. On average each case with low back pain is treated 1,4 times by a gene ral practitioner with experience in manual medicine while specialists who a re dealing with more complexe cases on average 4 to 5 times. The functional disorders of the lumbar spine treated by manual therapy are superior to th e physiotherapy approach or in comparison with a "placebo group" (informati on by general practitioner about low back pain and application of medicatio n). An appropriate indication for manual therapy is relevant to avoid or re duce the possible risk of the treatment procedure. The physician who perfor ms the manual therapy has to know the limits of the method. Also the knowle dge of contraindications for manual therapy will reduce the incidence of po ssible complication. However based upon the survey among the swiss associat ion the side effects and complications due to manual therapy of the lumbal spine are extremely seldom.