Specific Treatment of Problems of the Spine (STOPS)
Welcome to the STOPS Trials. STOPS stands for “Specific Treatment of Problems of the Spine”. The trials are designed to test whether physiotherapy treatment directed at the cause of low back pain is more effective than “non-specific” treatment.
Patients referred to the STOPS Trials will receive free treatment over a ten (10) week period provided they met the eligibility criteria.
The STOPS trials are a collaboration between the Musculoskeletal Research Centre at La Trobe University and Spinal Management Clinics (a subdivision of LifeCare)
Health practitioners
Consenting patients will be randomised into either evidence-based advice or evidence-based advice and specific treatment. Importantly both groups will receive treatment beneficial for their low back pain and should expect to improve. The purpose of the trials is to evaluate whether the addition of specific treatment commonly prescribed by physiotherapists gives patients any additional benefit to evidence-based advice...
Volunteers
“A medical referral is not necessary for people wanting to participate in the STOPS Trials, however you may want to discuss the trial with your treating doctor...