Randomized, controlled trial to analyze the effect of using a traction-bed-device on patients suffering from osteoarthritis/spondylosis of the lumbar spine

Treatment methods for low back pain (LBP) can be divided into conservative, invasive and surgical treatment approaches with traction therapy as a non-surgical therapeutic option. A clinical study analysed the effect of using a traction-bed-device (Movento) on 35 patients suffering from osteoarthritis/spondylosis of the lumbar spine. The study was performed as a multicentric, double-blind, randomised, controlled interventional study. The patients were treated over three weeks while staying in rehabilitation clinics. All patients were assessed initially at study entry, weekly and after 3 weeks as well as 12 weeks after discharge. The following outcome measures were used: Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), (12) Progressive Isoinertial Lifting Evaluation (PILE-Tests) and the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF36). One hundred ten patients between 40 and 75 years of age with a diagnosed osteochondrosis/spondylarthrosis with chronification stadium 1 and 2 according to Gerbershagen were enrolled in the study. Both study groups received conventional rehabilitation therapy. The intervention group additionally received additional therapy with a minimum of five hours with the Movento traction device per night with seven sessions per week and a duration of 21 days. The therapy is based on the unloading and loading of spinal tissueThe duration of the treatment was limited to a minimum of 5 h and a maximum of 8 h. The intervention group was able to show significantly better results in pain reduction (NRS) (p < 0.05), the Roland-Morris Questionnaire (p < 0.05), the PILE-Test (p < 0.05), the morning start-up time and the Finger-Floor-Distance measurement (p < 0.05) as well as the improvements in quality of life (SF-36). The presented results show that an additional traction device can improve pain score, function, clinical scores as well as improvements in quality of life in patients with spondylosis.