To determine the effectiveness of manual therapy combined with inclined board standing on quality of life in patients with non-specific mechanical low back pain. Single-center, parallel group, observer-blind randomized controlled trial. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, 2 weeks post-intervention, and after a 2-month follow-up. Treatment Group 1 received manual therapy combined with inclined board standing. Treatment Group 2 engaged in inclined board standing alone. Primary outcomes were measured using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) for pain intensity and the SF-12 Physical Component Summary (PCS) for quality of life.

The study included equal groups with a majority of female participants (68.2%) and those aged 18-29 years. ANOVA results of treatment groups showed significant improvements in PCS scores across stages with the combined therapy group demonstrating greater enhancements. The trial demonstrated that manual therapy combined with inclined board standing is more effective for reducing pain and improving quality of life.

Trial Registration:  ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05780593 (registered 13^th March 2023)

What is already known on this topic: Low back pain (LBP) is a common condition with significant health and economic impacts, traditionally managed with physical therapy, medications, and surgery. However, these treatments often have limited long-term effectiveness.

What this study adds:  Despite the widespread use of therapeutic exercises for low back pain (LBP), no previous study has evaluated the efficacy of inclined board standing (IBS). This study fills this gap, providing strong evidence that IBS significantly improves pain, functional capacity, and quality of life in LBP patients, and is a valuable addition to rehabilitation programs, enhancing physical function and reducing disability more effectively than manual therapy alone.

How this study might affect research, practice or policy:  This study provides compelling evidence for the inclusion of inclined board standing (IBS) in rehabilitation protocols for low back pain (LBP). By demonstrating the significant benefits of IBS, this research encourages further studies to explore its long-term effects and optimal implementation. Incorporating IBS into treatment plans to enhance patient outcome by clinicians in clinical settings. Additionally, policy makers could use these findings to update clinical guidelines, promoting evidence-based practices that improve functional capacity and reduce disability in LBP patients.