Therapeutic Techniques in Rehabilitation of Core Stability Muscles among Patients with Mechanical Low Back Pain

Azzam Alarab,Hamza Shaheen

doi:10.24018/ejmed.2020.2.4.429

Abstract

The study was designed to compare between the effect of strengthening exercises and mobilization techniques among patients with mechanical low back pain. Sixteen participants were included in this study, three patients for each group were excluded. They were classified into two groups. Group A, strengthening exercises, therapeutic massage, and group B, mobilization techniques, therapeutic massage. Each group had three sessions per week, for four weeks. The participants were assessed by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Independent samples were collected, t-test was used to study the similarity of demographic data between groups, Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test was used to study the change between pre- and post-treatment. The Mann-Whitney test was used to study the comparison between the two treatments. The comparison revealed that for VAS there was a significant difference between groups in term of the strengthening exercises group (P >0.05). For ODI, there were no statically significant differences between groups (P <0.05), but the impact of both techniques suggests that strengthening exercises have a higher effect comparing to mobilization techniques on pain. The study indicated that the strengthening exercises were more effective than mobilization techniques on pain. And finally, the study revealed that there was no significant difference between both groups on ODI.

Highlights

In chronic low back pain (LBP), 90% of cases were nonspecific, whereas 5–10% of cases were specific in origin, like degenerative conditions, inflammation, infection, and neoplasm
The subjects were allotted into two groups, Group (A) strengthening exercises with a therapeutic massage and group (B) mobilization technique with a therapeutic massage
The study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of strengthening exercises and mobilization techniques on pain and function among patients with mechanical low back pain

Summary

Introduction

In chronic low back pain (LBP), 90% of cases were nonspecific, whereas 5–10% of cases were specific in origin, like degenerative conditions, inflammation, infection, and neoplasm. Studies have reported the prevalence of chronic LBP is increasing linearly from the third decade of life to 60 years of age, and more common in women [1]. A majority of those with chronic low back pain show symptoms of depression or anxiety [2]. Exercises are used to strengthen muscles, increase soft tissue stability, restore range of movement, improve cardiovascular conditioning, increase proprioception, and reduce fear of movement as part of a cognitive behavioral or progressive exposure program. Strengthening exercises are intended to directly and promptly diminish and eliminate patients’ symptoms by providing beneficial and corrective mechanical directional end-range loads to the underlying pain generator [3]

Methods

Results

Conclusion