Bowen Technique shown to have long-term benefits

A study into the effect of the Bowen Technique has found that the therapy can have long-term benefits for those with chronic, non-specific low back pain (CNSLBP).

49% of the population reports lower back pain. CNSLBP is so called because in most cases, the pain does not stem from serious damage or disease, instead the issues are rooted in sprains, muscle strains, minor injuries or a pinched, irritated nerve.

The Bowen Technique focuses on soft tissue areas. Therapists use their hands to move over muscle, ligaments, tendons and fascias across the body. No hard-tissue manipulation or force is used, and the body is allowed to rest between movements.

The philosophy behind the technique focuses on triggering the body’s own healing systems rather than forcing the body to change.

37 participants with a mean age of 44.5 years took part in the blind study. 19 were allocated to the Bowen group and 18 to the control ‘Sham Bowen’ group.

Each received three weekly treatments and was asked to complete a series of questionnaires, one before the treatments, one after each session, and a final one four weeks later.

24 categories were created, covering pain and functioning, psychosocial and somatic changes, and general health.

Across all categories, participants in the Bowen group showed healthy improvement in four categories after the first follow-up session, compared to 11 in the control group.

However, after four weeks, the Bowen group reported improvements in 21 categories, compared to 12 in the control group. The biggest changes came in the pain and functioning category.

The results highlight that the Bowen Technique can see healthy improvement in CNSLBP following a four-week interval after treatment.