Journal article
Diagnosing and treating upper back pain: insights from New Zealand's manipulative physiotherapists and osteopaths
The Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy, Vol.33(2), pp.149-157
04/03/2025
PMCID: PMC11924269
PMID: 39654110
Appears in Recent Faculty of Health Publications
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Abstract
Background: Manual therapy is routinely used in the management of upper back pain (UBP), a disabling condition. However, the approach to diagnosis and treatment techniques used by manipulative physiotherapists and osteopaths is largely unknown.
Objectives: To explore knowledge about UBP, including diagnosis and treatment, by New Zealand (NZ) osteopaths and manipulative physiotherapists and to investigate differences (if any) in the self-reported approaches to diagnosis and management of UBP between the professions.
Design: A cross-sectional survey administered through an online platform (Qualtrics) between September 2023 and January 2024.
Participants: One hundred and ten NZ osteopaths and manipulative physiotherapists completed the survey.
Results: Forty-eight percent (n = 53) of respondents identified their profession as physiotherapists and 52% (n = 57) as osteopaths. Over three-quarters of respondents (77%) ‘strongly agreed’ that a multimodal approach is essential for effective UBP management. Osteopaths were significantly more likely to often proffer ‘wear and tear/degeneration’ (p < 0.01) and ‘visceral referred pain’ (p = 0.02) as the cause of a patient’s UBP. In terms of management, osteopaths were significantly more likely to use soft tissue techniques (p < 0.01), spinal manipulations (p < 0.01), rib manipulations (p < 0.01), rib mobilizations (p < 0.01), and visceral techniques (p < 0.01), compared to physiotherapists.
Conclusions: The survey highlights a strong consensus among respondents that a multimodal approach is essential for effective UBP management. The survey also identified profession-specific approaches to the diagnosis and management of UBP. Future research using qualitative methods is required to further explore these profession-specific differences and explore outcomes of care.
Details
- Title
- Diagnosing and treating upper back pain: insights from New Zealand's manipulative physiotherapists and osteopaths
- Creators
- Kesava Kovanur Sampath - Waikato Institute of TechnologyTevin Smith - Centre for Health and Social Practice, Waikato Institute of Technology, Hamilton, New ZealandSuzie Belcher - Centre for Health and Social Practice, Waikato Institute of Technology, Hamilton, New ZealandGerard Farrell - Centre for Health, Activity, and Rehabilitation Research (CHARR), School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New ZealandGary Fryer - Victoria UniversityBrett Vaughan - University of MelbourneRob Moran - Waikato Institute of Technology
- Publication Details
- The Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy, Vol.33(2), pp.149-157
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- Identifiers
- 991013241953102368
- Copyright
- © 2024 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
- Academic Unit
- Allied Health and Midwifery; Faculty of Health
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article