A RANDOMISED CONTROLLED PILOT STUDY OF NEURO EMOTIONAL TECHNIQUE FOR CHRONIC LOW-BACK PAIN

INTRODUCTION: Chronic low-back pain (CLBP) is a complex, multi-factorial

phenomenon with physical and biopsychosocial components. The biopsychosocial model of

pain acknowledges the biological, psychological, and social dimensions of the pain

experience. Chiropractors have begun to embrace the concept of “mind–body” treatments and

attempt to integrate the function of the mind with the body in both assessment and therapy.

Very few “mind–body” treatments have been scrutinized under controlled conditions. The

objective of this study is to investigate if Neuro Emotional Technique (NET) can alter the

status of LBP in a group of chronic LBP patients, in a randomized controlled trial setting.

METHODS: 17 CLBP participants with 3 months pain duration were randomised into NET

treatment or NET sham protocol groups. Both groups were prescribed a frequency of 2

sessions/wk for 1 month. Outcome measures included the McGill pain questionnaire (MPQ),

a numerical pain rating scale (VAS) and the Oswestry disability questionnaire (obtained at

baseline and at 1 month). This study received ethics approval: HE26SEPT2003-RO2600, and

is registered with the ANZCTR Registration number: ACTRN12607000650493

RESULTS: A strongly significant difference was detected between the two time profiles for

Oswestry scores (Exp: 1.9 SE 1.0, Control: 0.05, SE: 0.7); a significant difference was

detected between the two time profiles for the VAS Q1 (Exp: 2.6 SE 0.25, Control: 1.0,

SE:0.3), and between the two time profiles for the MSPQ scores (Exp: 3.4 SE 7.8, Control:

2.0., SE: 6.6); and a significant difference was almost detected between the two time profiles

for the SF-MPQ Q1 scores (Exp: 20 SE 26.5, Control: 2, SE: 0.36). Due to the small

numbers, this study was generally a low power study (30% for all measures except the

Oswestry which was 81%). The disability score especially demonstrated a large effect size

and provides evidence for a larger scale RCT.

CONCLUSION: The disability score demonstrated a large effect size due to NET treatment

and provides evidence for a larger scale RCT for chronic low back pain.

Published by Peter Bablis Henry Pollard, Rod Bonello Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia

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