Which age group is commonly studied in research regarding lumbar manipulation?

• A. 10-17 years
• B. 18-60 years
• C. 61-75 years
• D. 76 years and older

Answer: (B)

The age group of 18-60 years is commonly studied in research regarding lumbar manipulation because this range encompasses the population that typically experiences lumbar spine issues related to both acute and chronic pain conditions. Individuals in this group are often active and may present with mechanical low back pain due to occupational, lifestyle, or sports-related factors. Additionally, studies often focus on this demographic because they are more likely to seek treatment and may have a broader range of lumbar spinal issues that can be addressed with manipulative therapies.

Research in this area tends to prioritize the young to middle-aged adult population since they are less likely to have confounding variables such as multiple comorbidities, which are more prevalent in older age groups. As such, individuals over the age of 60 may be less frequently included in studies because their lumbar issues could be compounded by age-related degenerative changes and they might respond differently to manipulation due to varying physiological factors.