THE INFLUENCE OF MANUAL THERAPY ON LOW BACK PAIN RESULTING FROM VISCERAL DYSFUNCTIONS

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic low back pain is a condition of high prevalence and functional impact, understood through a biopsychosocial model that involves neurophysiological and emotional factors. In addition to musculoskeletal alterations, visceral dysfunctions can contribute to the perpetuation of pain through peripheral and central mechanisms. In this context, osteopathy, through visceral manual therapy, emerges as an approach aimed at restoring tissue mobility, promoting functional balance, pain modulation, and improved functionality. Objective: To analyze the influence of manual therapy on low back pain resulting from visceral dysfunctions. Method: This is a literature review conducted between August and September 2025. Scientific articles indexed in the Virtual Health Library (BVS) and PubMed databases were selected. The search used Health Science Descriptors (DeCS): low back pain, chronic pain, pain management, and osteopathy. Intervention studies, case studies, multicenter cohort studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses published between 2015 and 2025 in Portuguese or English, available in full and with free access, were included. Abstracts, theses, dissertations, and monographs were excluded. After applying the selection criteria, seven studies met the requirements, addressing aquatic physiotherapeutic interventions applied to osteomuscular conditions. Results: The analyzed studies showed that osteopathic manual therapy, with an emphasis on visceral mobilization, promotes a significant reduction in chronic lower back pain, with better results compared to isolated interventions. Improvement was observed in functional disability and quality of life, in addition to physiological effects such as modulation of the central nervous system, improvement of bowel function, and reduction of symptoms such as anxiety and sleep disturbances. Final Considerations: Osteopathic manual therapy proves to be effective and safe in the treatment of nonspecific chronic low back pain, promoting pain reduction and improvement in functionality and quality of life. Its integrated action between the musculoskeletal and visceral systems stands out. However, more rigorous studies are needed to strengthen the evidence.