The first purpose of this study is to define parameters of the trunk neuromuscular functions that are pathologically altered in patients with low back pain due to spondylolytic spondylolisthesis. The second and also the main purpose of the study is to examine the effects of exercise intervention on patients with low back pain due to spondylolytic spondylolisthesis. Our overall hypothesis is that specific exercise intervention will improve neuromuscular functions of the trunk in patients with low back pain due to spondylolytic spondylolisthesis.
Low back pain is known to affect a considerable portion (\> 75%) of the society, causing enormous financial burden for the healthcare systems. Exercise interventions incorporated into low back pain patients rehabilitation protocols are known as successful treatment strategies, but ore often focused on strength training and not on functional stabilization. Spondylolytic spondylolisthesis is one of the most known types of spine instabilities. To date, no studies examined the effects of exercise intervention on patients with low back pain due to spondylolytic spondylolisthesis. Research will be carried out as a cross-sectional study, where patients with spondylolytic spondylolisthesis will be randomly arranged in one controlled and two experimental groups. For the forth group healthy asymptomatic participants will be recruited. Exercise intervention will last 12 weeks with a frequency of three times a week and duration of 60 minutes per training unit. Exercise intervention will include congregated set of trunk stabilisation exercises, starting with simple isometric tasks. Dynamic and more complex movements will be added progressively to achieve whole body tasks involving fast and sudden movements. Neuromuscular functions of the trunk will be measured before and after the intervention.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
Functional stabilisation exercise for the trunk.
Functional stabilisation exercise for the trunk and electrical stimulation at the same time.
Orthopaedic Hospital Valdoltra
Ankaran, Slovenia
University of Primorska, Science and Research Centre of Koper, Institute for Kinesiology Research
Koper, Slovenia
University Medical Centre Ljubljana
Ljubljana, Slovenia
University Medical Centre Maribor
Maribor, Slovenia
Changes in measures of neuromuscular functions of the trunk
Set of tests that objectively evaluate the neuromuscular functions of the trunk. * Ability to reposition the trunk position during forward bent * Maximal voluntary contraction during trunk flexion, extension and lateral flexion * Muscle endurance during isometric trunk extension. * Trunk's muscles activation during sudden loading and fast arm movement * Single leg stance * Leg symmetry during squat * Hip and spine flexibility
Time frame: Change from baseline values at 9 weeks
Changes in Oswestry questionnaire score
Oswestry Low Back Pain Questionnaire commolny used by clinicians and researchers to quantify disability for low back pain.
Time frame: Change from baseline values at 9 weeks
Change in Posture parameters
Angular and linear posture measures in frontal and sagittal plane.
Time frame: Change from baseline values at 9 weeks
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