Skip to main content

Table 3 MT techniques used in the ManRück study [17]

From: Manual therapy applied by general practitioners for nonspecific low back pain: results of the ManRück pilot-study

Diagnostic tests

Spine-Test: The GP places his thumbs at an equal level, one on the posterior superior iliac spine (PSIS) and the other on the Os sacrum. The patient lifts a leg maximally. If the therapist’s thumb on SIPS does not slide caudal, the test is positive for SIJ-dysfunction [27].

Standing forward flexion-Test: The GP is standing behind the standing patient and places his thumbs on both PSIS. The patient bends forward. If one PSIS moves further forward, the test is positive for SIJ-dysfunction [37].

Manual therapeutic techniques

1.Vibrating traction of both legs: the patient is either lying on the back or face down, the GP takes hold of the legs above the ankle with both hands and pulls the legs vibrating simultaneously [37, 38]. Vibrating traction was presented with a low frequency (20–40/min) at an angle between 20 and 40°. The traction was applied for roughly 1–3 min without a specified duration.

2. Post-isometric relaxation: Patient on the back with bent knees. The patient abducts both legs against the resistance of GPs’ hands. The same exercise is then performed with adduction in the hip. Both maneuvers were completed once for 15 s.

3. The mobilization of the iliosacral joint and the lumbar spine: The patient lies on his side with his upper leg bent 90 degrees at the hip. The GP stands in front of the patient and places the hand closest to the patient’s head on the patient’s upper shoulder. The GP’s other hand is placed on the patient’s hip. By moving the shoulder and the upper leg of the patient, the GP can adjust the rotation of the spinal column. The stretch is held for a few seconds and then released. The other side of the back is treated in the same way [12].