A Randomized Placebo Controlled Trial on the Efficacy of Sustained Natural Apophyseal Glide (SNAG) in Low Back Pain Patients

Objectives: Determine the efficacy of the SNAG technique (Mulligan) applied to a subgroup of people with non-specific low back pain (LBP) on two new kinematic-algorythms, on pain, functional disability and kinesiophobia. Design: A randomized double blinded placebo controlled trial with double arms in accordance with the CONSORT statement. Subjects: Patients with non-specific low back pain will be recruting from Saint-Luc hospital, only a subgroup of them will be included according to specific inclusion criteria tailored for indication of application of SNAG's therapy (Mulligan technique applied on the lumbar spine). Method: Subjects will be randomized in 2 groups; real-SNAG and sham-SNAG groups. All patients will be treated during a single session, and real/sham SNAG will be applied from a sitting position with the belt, and in a flexion direction. Two kinematic-algorythms (ROM and Speed) from a validated kinematic spine model will be used and recorded with an opto-electronic device (BTS-Elite). Pain at rest and during flexion, as well as functional disability and kinesiophobia will be recorded by self-reported measures. These outcomes will be blindly evaluated before and after treatment to compare both groups with " Two-Way-ANOVA " statistic with for factors; time and groups.