A Case Study on the Osteopathic Approach to Chronic Low Back Pain and Radiculopathy
Item
- Title
- A Case Study on the Osteopathic Approach to Chronic Low Back Pain and Radiculopathy
- Author(s)
- Schmied Astrid
- Abstract
-
A case study must not lead to the conclusion that the results are representative for
other similar cases but I think it can give important information about the effects
of a treatment and the factors influencing it.
It was important to me to keep the design of the treatment process as realistic as
possible in order to capture the influencing factors on to the patient and the
osteopathic management of the problem. This gave an interesting view on the
effect of the patient’s compliance, time management and coping with her problem
within a therapy-process. The results show a significant worsening of the
symptoms in times of mental stress and physical overload and a lack of
compliance in the sense of forgetting to fill in the pain diary and postponing
appointments in periods of stress, which points out the importance of the patient’s
compliance for the success of the treatment.
Overall the results of this case study show a positive trend of improvement
concerning the patient’s pain syndrome. From an osteopathic point of view
positive changes in the patient’s tissue quality (especially in the foot and ankle),
vitality and balance after two treatments can be stated, which leads to the
conclusion that an osteopathic treatment in this case is indicated.
The final interview with the patient gave me the impression that she did develop
more understanding for the nature of her problem and her body’s reaction on
physical and mental overload which is inevitable for the accomplishment of her
chronic pain syndrome.
Concerning the method, I have to say that the SF-36®, which I chose for the fact
that the average appointment interval in my daily practise is 4 to 6 weeks, was not
representative in this case study because it is designed for the use of a 4 weeks
interval and might therefore not me sensitive enough for physical and mental
changes within a shorter period of time. Therefore, although it only contains 10
questions, the more valuable life quality score was the ODI. I think it the best
impression of all affecters and the state of health in the patient’s life gave the pain
diary and especially the VAS. For a more objective presentation of the progress it
might have been interesting to take pictures of the standing position and especially
the swelling and colouring of the left foot and ankle of the patient.
Concluding, I think that this case study objectifies my daily experience in
practising osteopathy and dealing with patients with chronic back pain syndromes.
In this case, according to the results of the study, the chances for a successful
osteopathic treatment seem good and although this is not transferable to other
cases, I was able to draw interesting information about the osteopathic treatment
process out of this study. - presented at
- Wiener Schule für Osteopathie
- Date Accepted
- 2007
- Date Submitted
- 1.3.2007 00:00:00
- Type
- osteo_thesis
- Language
- English
- Number of pages
- 76
- Submitted by:
- 62
- Pub-Identifier
- 13534
- Inst-Identifier
- 781
- Keywords
- Radiculopathy,Low Back Pain
- Recommended
- 0
- Medium
- SchmiedAstrid.pdf
- Item sets
- Thesis
- Media
- SchmiedAstrid.pdf
Schmied Astrid, “A Case Study on the Osteopathic Approach to Chronic Low Back Pain and Radiculopathy”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed April 26, 2024, https://www.osteopathic-research.com/s/orw/item/2987