Objective: To determine if a new method of lumbar extension traction can increase lordosis in chronic low back pain (LBP) subjects with decreased lordosis.Design: Nonrandomized controlled trial with follow-up at 3 months and 1(1)/(2) years.Setting: Primary care spine clinic in Nevada.Patients: Beginning in mid-1998, the first 48 consecutive patients, who met the inclusion criteria of chronic LBP with decreased lordosis and who completed the treatment program were matched for sex, age, height, weight, and pain scores to 30 control subjects with chronic LBP, who received no treatment.Interventions: A new form of 3-point bending lumbar extension traction was provided in-office 3 to 4 times a week for 12+/-4 weeks. Per session, traction duration was started at 3 minutes and was increased to a maximum of 20 minutes. For short-term pain relief, torsion lumbar spinal manipulation was provided in the initial 3 weeks.Main Outcome Measures: Pain as measured on a visual analog scale (VAS) and standing lateral lumbar radiographic measurements.
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