Effectiveness of Muscle Energy Technique as Compared to Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation in Non-Specific Low Back Pain: RCT

Abstract

Background: Approximately 80% of peoples experience LBP during their lifetime. While a specific cause of low back pain can seldom be identified, the most prevalent type is mechanical & non-specific low back pain. This study was designed to evaluate the two manual techniques i.e., MET & PNF in participants with non-specific low back pain. MET is used to decrease pain & the PNF goal is the facilitation of the agonist’s muscle. Objectives:A Study to find the effectiveness of MET as compared to PNF to reduce pain and improve strength and function in participants with LBP to get the best results & greater benefits for the population. Methods: In a 6-weeks intervention study, 45 participants with features of low back pain were studied. They were divided into 3 groups by simple random sampling; Group A received MET, Group B received PNF, and Group C is the control group. Pre and post-treatment data were collected and analyzed using SPSS 22.0. Paired t-test and One Way ANOVA were used to find out the significance of the treatment. Results: A significant improvement in pain, disability through the NPRS, RMDQ scale (p‹0.05), and PWB after the treatment was found. A greater statistically significant difference was seen in Group A as compared to Group B & Group C. Conclusion: The study concluded that the MET is more effective compared to the PNF & control group treating participants with LBP. Keywords: Non-Specific LBP, Muscle Energy Technique, Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation, NPRS, RMDQ