The research article, “ShoeOrthotics for the Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized ControlledTrial”, is a research study conducted by J. Cambron and her associates at theNational University of Health Sciences. This research investigated theefficiency of shoe orthotics (with or without chiropractic services) as atreatment for low back pain.
The study design included 225 participants dividedinto 3 groups, a waitlist group, foot levelers shoe orthotic group and a plusgroup. The waitlist group acted as a control for the experiment, foot levelerswere given 2 orthotics, and the plus group was given orthotics along with chiropracticservices. In general, this is an appropriate studydesign, by using 225 patients in total, this allows for a proper evaluation ofthe effects of the intervention on a large scale. The large scale approachprovides the researchers with more data to evaluate and analyze. Additionally,the participants were randomized into their respective groups by a researchfellow that was not involved in the study. This type of randomization maintainsa bias avoidance during the patient-intervention interaction.
Statistics of this studymainly covered the following; baseline characteristics, changes in NPRS, andchanges in ODI. No evidence of significant differences wefound across treatments for any of the baseline characteristics. Statistics ofthis study are appropriate for this study design by allowing for the clarificationof what the researchers seek to observe.The outcome measuresfor the research study were measured at 6 weeks, 12 weeks then an additional3,6 & 12 months and included the following; LBP measured via a NumericalPain Rating Scale (NPRS) and Low back disability measure by Owestry DisabilityIndex (ODI). Researchers found that after 6 weeks, LBP and disability improvedfor all 3 groups. There was a considerable improvement in foot levelers whencompared to the waitlist and the addition of chiropractic services demonstratedan improvement in disability scores when compared with the orthotics alone.
Atweek 12 and later, there were no significant changes in any of the groups. Theresults were interpreted correctly, however the p-values for the changes thatoccurred at week 6 (for the ODI) were less than 0.05, which suggest that theresults are not statistically significant.
