Effects of Myofascial Release Therapy and Endurance Training on Mechanical Back Pain

Overview

This study is a randomized clinical trial to determine the effects of myofascial release therapy versus endurance training of trunk extensor muscles on pain, disability and muscle endurance in patients with mechanical back pain. A sample of 24 patients will be taken and divided into two groups each with 12 patients. Group A will receive myofascial release therapy and conventional physical therapy while group B will endurance training of trunk extensors and the conventional physical therapy protocol. The conventional physical therapy protocol will include a hot pack, back care advice, and postural modifications. The session will be around 40 to 45 min for each patient with four sessions per week. A total of four-week treatment regime will be given to the patients and assessment of the patient's pain, disability, and endurance with NPRS (numeric pain rating scale), Rolland Morris Disability Questionnaire and Sorenson Test will be done at the baseline, after the completion of treatment at pre interventional and post interventional to observe the long-term effects. The data will be analyzed using SPSS.

Mechanical low back pain is an injury of an anatomic structure in the low back. It accounts for 97% of cases arising from spinal structures such as bone ligaments, nerves, etc. In chronic low back pain, exercise therapy has become a first-line treatment and should be routinely used. Fascia is a form of connective tissue made up of collagen, surrounds the body parts, and resists tissue tensile load. Fascial injury and adhesions are common and can lead to pain, restricted motion, and swelling. The treatment of the fascial injury is necessary to relieve those symptoms. There are many treatments for mechanical back pain and this study focuses on two new treatment techniques for mechanical back pain. The first is the myofascial release therapy, a manual approach that focuses on the structural segmentation of fascia and involves the application of gentle pressure while stretching the body's connective tissues. The other treatment technique is the endurance training of the trunk extensor muscles that involve the treatment which is directed to endurance training of erector spinae and latissimus dorsi. The current study is novel in a way that there is limited literature about myofascial release therapy versus endurance training of trunk extensor muscles in patients with mechanical back pain. Both methods were employed to see if they improve pain along with accompanying disability and muscle endurance.