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Efficacy of lumbar traction: a randomised clinical trial
van der Heijden GJM, Beurskens AJH, Dirx MJM, Bouter LM, Lindeman E
Physiotherapy 1995 Jan;81(1):29-35
clinical trial
8/10 [Eligibility criteria: Yes; Random allocation: Yes; Concealed allocation: Yes; Baseline comparability: Yes; Blind subjects: Yes; Blind therapists: No; Blind assessors: Yes; Adequate follow-up: Yes; Intention-to-treat analysis: No; Between-group comparisons: Yes; Point estimates and variability: Yes. Note: Eligibility criteria item does not contribute to total score] *This score has been confirmed*

This pilot study for a randomised clinical trial compares the effect of high-dose continuous lumbar traction and low-dose continuous lumbar traction on the magnitude and rate of recovery for patients with low back pain. A motorised traction force of 44% of the body weight was applied in the treatment group (n = 13) and of 19% in the control group (n = 12). Both groups were comparable before randomised treatment allocation. The patients were blinded successfully. The results for most outcome measures favoured high dose traction, treatment versus control group: 64% versus 34% at five weeks, and 45% versus 25% at nine weeks. These results are clinically substantial but do not reach statistical significance (95% confidence intervals include zero). Due to the small number of patients this study lacks power, therefore the 95% confidence intervals are very wide. With 50 patients in each group the 95% confidence intervals at five weeks would have excluded zero.

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