OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility of recruiting sciatica patients and to evaluate their compliance in preparation for a full-scale randomized clinical trial. We also aimed to determine the responsiveness of key outcome measures. METHODS: Thirty-two subjects were randomly assigned to spinal manipulation (n = 11), epidural steroid injections (n = 11), or self-care education (n = 10). No between-group comparisons were planned because of the small sample size. RESULTS: At week 12 (the end of the treatment phase), the outcome measures indicating the most improvement/change were the Oswestry disability score (mean 22.9; SD 19.9; effect size (ES) 1.8), leg pain severity (mean 2.9; SD 1.7; ES 1.7), and if the symptoms were bothersome (mean 25.2; SD 16.0; ES 1.6). Twenty-four patients were either "very satisfied" or "completely satisfied", and 22 of 32 patients reported 75% or 100% improvement. After 52 weeks, the outcome measure showing the most improvement/change was leg pain severity (mean 2.3; SD 2.6; ES 1.35), followed by the Oswestry disability score (mean 15.6; SD 20; ES 1.2) and if symptoms were bothersome (mean 18.1; SD 22.6; ES 1.1). Eighteen patients were either "very satisfied" or "completely satisfied", and 15 of 32 patients reported 75% or 100% improvement. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this pilot study suggest that it is feasible to recruit subacute and chronic sciatica patients and to obtain their compliance for a full-scale randomized clinical.
Reprinted from the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics with copyright permission from the National University of Health Sciences.

Full text (sometimes free) may be available at these link(s):      help

• DOI
• PubMed
• PDF locator
• publisher