Efficiency of GDS Method for Lumbar Stabilization for Non-Specific Low Back Pain in Primary Care

Carlos III Health Institute160 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to assess the effectiveness of GDS Treatment Method for patients with subacute or chronic non-specific low back pain in Primary Care of Spanish National Health Service.

Low back pain is one of the most frequent ailments in industrialized countries, with a lifetime prevalence of more than 70%. It is responsible for a major portion of work absenteeism and is actually among those conditions which generate the greatest expense due to health and labor costs. The Spanish National Health Service is a universal and free health care system. Non-specific low back pain (LBP) is a prevalent disorder, generating large health and social costs. There is considerable variation in LBP related clinical practice and a considerable number of clinical guidelines have been developed for the management of subacute and chronic LBP patients. Experience in Primary Care Centers of Madrid shows that physiotherapeutic intervention based on GDS Method for Articular and Muscular Chains is an efficient technique in the treatment of patients with diagnosis of non-specific low back pain compared with conventional physiotherapy treatment in Primary Care based on electrotherapy (TENS and microwave) Currently, no randomized studies examining the effects of this method for patients with subacute or chronic non-specific low back pain have been published.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

160

Conditions

Low Back Pain

Interventions

GDS Method (muscular chains physical therapy method)BEHAVIORAL

Experimental group received 15 GDS method sessions based on the equilibration of articular and muscular tensions that reduced trunk and lumbopelvic stability. GDS method combine specific technics of manual therapy, spinal stabilisation and stretching exercises (4 sessions),supervised group exercise therapy (10 sessions) and home exercise programme with individualised exercises (1 session) Experimental group received 2 sessions of 50 minutes per week during 8 weeks.

Conventional Physical Therapy in Primary Health CareBEHAVIORAL

Conventional Physical Therapy in Spanish Primary Care Units are based on Electrotherapy (TENS and microwave thermotherapy) and a standard written advices. Patients received 14 sessions of 40 minutes of conventional TENS, 10 minutes of microwave thermotherapy and 1 last session of standard written advices. Conventional Physical Therapy group received 2 sessions of 50 minutes per week during 8 weeks.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 65 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: Participants were required to: * Be aged 18 years or older; * Have been diagnosed with simple mechanical LBP by their doctor and prescribed physiotherapy; * Have an impairment secondary to functional overload and/or poor postural habits (patients with certain occupations were excluded if these could act as confounding factors); * Not be receiving any other form of treatment; * Not be neurologically compromised; and * To be in a subacute or chronic stage of LBP exceeding 4 weeks. Exclusion Criteria: Subjects were excluded if they: * Showed clear symptoms of depression; * Refused to participate; * Did not sign the informed consent form; * Had any cognitive impairment that would prevent them from following instructions; * Were unable to understand Spanish sufficiently to adequately follow instructions; * Had the intention of moving from the area; * Had any form of contraindication to the physiotherapeutic techniques to be applied to both groups; * Had red flags, or warning signs, of serious illness such as cancer, infection, fracture or cauda equinal syndrome; * Had yellow flags, or risk factors, for a psychological disorder or had lumbar pain whose main cause was not mechanical.

Locations (1)

Complutense University

Madrid, Spain/Madrid, Spain

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Intensity of pain (VAS)

Time frame: At baseline, immediately after intervention,at 3-months and 6-months

Secondary Outcomes

Disability (Oswestry questionnaire) Quality of life (SF-36 questionnaire) Elasticity goniometric test for lumbopelvic region

Time frame: At baseline, immediately after intervention,at 3-months and 6-months

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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