Effects of osteopathic manipulative treatment associated with transcranial direct current stimulation in individuals with chronic low back pain: A double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial.

This article evaluates the effectiveness of combining osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for reducing pain, disability, and improving quality of life in individuals with non-specific chronic low back pain (CLBP). In a randomized, double-blind clinical trial involving 72 participants divided into three groups (active tDCS + OMT, sham tDCS + sham OMT, and sham tDCS + OMT), both OMT groups showed significant pain reduction and quality of life improvement compared to the sham group, but the addition of tDCS did not provide clinically significant benefits beyond OMT alone. Disability scores improved across all groups without significant differences between them. The study suggests that the multidimensional nature of CLBP may limit the effectiveness of tDCS targeting the primary motor cortex and recommends further research exploring alternative brain stimulation sites and parameters.