Positional release for back pain has uncertain benefits
Adding positional release to physiotherapy appeared helpful in pooled trials, but evidence certainty was very low.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
For adults with low back pain, adding positional release to conventional physiotherapy was linked to improvements in pain, activity limitation and back movement in pooled trials. Confidence in these findings was very low. The review did not establish that positional release was superior when used as a treatment on its own.
This abstract-based summary draws on 18 trials, including 14 at high risk of bias. Pain scales and assessment timing are not reported, limiting interpretation of the pooled results.
Adding the technique
The review examined pain, limitations on activity and lower-back movement. Adding positional release to conventional physiotherapy favored the combined approach across these outcomes, but the supporting evidence was rated very low certainty.
A separate comparison
Muscle energy technique performed better than positional release for activity limitation and backward bending of the lower back. This separate comparison had low-certainty evidence, so those results also need cautious interpretation.
The original publication
Positional release technique in the management of low back pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Danazumi MS, Zakari UU, Yakasai AM et al.
J Bodyw Mov Ther · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40954594
- Record checked
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