J Canadian Chiropractic Association 2026 (Apr); 70 (1): 27-54
Table 2.
Study characteristics.
| Author and Year | N | Age in years | Symptom duration | Condition | Intervention group(s) with SMT and (N) | Comparison group(s) without SMT and (N) | Outcome measures | Primary follow-up duration(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Learman 2013 | 49 | 64.5 (SD=8.9); ≥55 | 22.2 weeks (SD=40.6) | Low back pain | 1. TM+HEP (n=19) | 2. Non-TM+HEP (n=30) | Primary: NPRS, ODI | Mean 40.0 days (SD=32.9) |
| Dougherty 2014 | 136 | 77; ≥65 | ≥3 months | Low back pain | 1. SMT (n=69) | 2. Sham (n=67) “detuned ultrasound” applied over the lumbar spine for 11 minutes | Primary: ODI, SF-36 PFS, VAS Secondary: SF-36 PCS, TUG |
5, 12 weeks |
| Enix 2015 | 118 | 72.0 (SD= 6.7); 60–85 | >12 weeks | Balance problems and low back pain | 1. SMT+soft tissue manipulation (n=61) | 2. Multimodal physical therapy exercise, without SMT (n=57) | Primary: 21-point Box Pain Scale | 6, 12 weeks |
| Maiers 2014 Secondary analysis: Leininger 2016 |
241 | 1. SMT+HEA 71.7 (SD= 5.2) 2. SRE+HEA 72.6 (SD= 5.6) 3. HEA 72.7 (SD= 5.3) |
1. SMT+HEA 6.5 years (IQR= 2.0–19.0) 2. SRE+HEA 7.5 years (IQR= 1.8–20.0) 3. HEA 5.0 years (IQR= 2.0–15.0) |
Neck pain | 1. SMT+HE (n=80) | 2. SRE+HEA (n=82) 3. HEA (n=79) |
Primary: 11-Box Pain Scale, NDI, SF-36 PFS Secondary: SF-36 MCS, Improvement, Satisfaction, Cervical spine dynamic motion, Isometric muscle flexion and extension strength, Static muscle endurance, TUG, hand grip strength |
12 weeks |
| Maiers 2019 Secondary analysis: Maiers 2021 |
182 | 71.1 (SD= 5.3); 85–87 | Neck: 12.7 years (SD=13.1) Back: 17.6 weeks (SD=15.8) |
Neck and back disability | 1. SMT+ supervised exercise (12 weeks) (n=91) | 2. SMT+supervised exercise (36 weeks) | Primary: ODI, NDI, 11-Box Pain Scale, EQ, SPPB Secondary: Improvement, satisfaction, kinesiophobia, self-efficacy, expectations for improvement, hand grip strength |
36 weeks |
| Schneider 2019 | 259 | 72.4 (SD=7.8); 60–94 | 1. MT/IE: 92% >6 months 2. Medical: 92% >6 months 3. Group-based exercise: 86% >6 months |
Lumbar spinal stenosis | 1. MT/IE (n=87) | 2. Medical (n=88) 3. Group-based exercise (n=84) |
Primary: SSS, SPWT, daily physical activity | 2 months |
| Schulz 2019 | 241 | 1.SMT+HEP 72.5 (SD= 5.6) 2.SEP+HEP 73.6 (SD= 5.3) 3.HEP 74.7 (SD= 5.6) |
1. SMT+HEP 13.7 years (SD=15.7) 2. SEP+HEP 12.1 years (SD=15.1) 3. HEP 12.9 years (SD=15.8) |
Low back pain | 1. SMT+HEP (n=81) | 2. SEP+HEP (n=80) 3. HEP (n=80) |
Primary: 11-Box Pain Scale, MRS, SF-36 PFS Secondary: SF-36 MCS, Improvement, Satisfaction, Lumbar and spine dynamic motion, Isometric muscle flexion and extension strength, Static muscle endurance, TUG, hand grip strength |
12 weeks |
Abbreviations:
EQ = EuroQol EQ-5D;
HEA = Home Exercise and Advice;
HEP = Home Exercise Program;
IQR = InterQuar-tile Range;
MCS = Mental Component Summary;
MRS = Modified Roland Scale;
MT/IE = Manual Therapy/Individualized Exercise;
NDI = Neck Disability Index;
NPRS = Numeric Pain Rating Scale;
ODI = Oswestry Disability Index;
PCS = Pain Component Summary;
PFS = Physical Function Subscale;
SD = Standard Deviation;
SEP = Supervised Exercise Program;
SF-36 = 36-Item Short Form Survey;
SPPB = Short Physical Performance Battery;
SPWT = Self-Paced Walking Test;
SRE = Supervised Rehabilitative Exercise;
SMT = Spinal Manipulative Therapy;
SSS = Swiss Spinal Stenosis Questionnaire;
TM = Thrust Manipulation;
TUG = Timed Up and Go;
VAS = Visual Analog Scale.
Listed numbers. (e.g., 1., 2., 3.,) before values correspond to intervention groups, consistent within studies.