Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
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Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2004; 9: 15
Kinesiology is a small but growing profession of some 40 years’ history with roots in chiropractic and Chinese medicine. No formal evaluations are evident to date. This study begins to address possible issues involved in therapeutic effectiveness within kinesiology. The aims for this first exploratory study in kinesiology include exploration of its suitability as a treatment for recurrent and chronic low back pain, provision of a model for a sham kinesiology, investigation of the efficacy of kinesiology vs. sham and the investigation of potential predictors of outcome (e.g. expectations).
One hundred and fifty patients with back pain will be randomised to full kinesiology, sham kinesiology or delayed treatment. An initial feasibility study will determine the credibility of the sham treatment using a crossover design. In the main study, patients will receive five treatments at weekly intervals and followed up at 3 months. Measurements will be taken at baseline, end of treatment and follow-up.
The primary outcome measure will be the Roland Disability Scale. Secondary outcomes include the following continuous measures: VAS pain scores, MYMOP and SF-36. Primary and secondary outcomes will be measured by repeated measures of ANOVA. Predictor variables will be analysed by linear regression. Analysis will be on an ITT basis.
Data collection will commence in autumn 2004. The findings from this study will provide the first formal evaluation of kinesiology for this chronic condition and will enable the development of methodology for this complex intervention.
This PhD study is self-funded by the author.
