Low back pain (LBP) is the most frequent complaint encountered in clinical practice. Exercises and manual therapy prescription are common physical therapy treatments prescribed for the patients presenting with chronic low back pain. The interventions will establish the future direction for practitioners in choosing the manual therapy or repeated exercises as effective prescription and provide a basis for future research
A variety of treatment interventions, modalities and techniques are used in physical therapy management of non-specific low back pain including manual therapy, exercises, neural mobilizations, stretching soft tissue techniques and dry needling etc. Out of these more recent literature supports manual therapy, self exercises, patient counseling and awareness have been recommended in back pain management guidelines, in the United States and is also frequently used in clinical practice in various countries. Despite multiple theoretical frame works proposing the role of SNAGs and MDT mobilizations and exercises respectively, the literature on the true mechanism of direct or indirect physiological effects of these on performance or performance-related outcomes is vague and lacks justifiable procedural rigor. The results of this study will provide information regarding the direction for practitioners in choosing the manual therapy or repeated exercises as effective prescription and provide a basis for future research.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
170
Application of the MWM technique developed by Brian R. Mulligan. The clinical researcher will perform and holds sustained passive segmental glide at the target joint maintaining the slack whereas the patient will actively move in the direction of pain or stiffness. These MWM techniques when applied to spinal segments or joint is called sustained natural apophyseal glide (SNAG).
An active therapy technique involving repeated movements or sustained positions along with an educational component prescribed to the patient for of minimizing the pain and disability and increase the spinal range of motion. The method will involve the assessment of symptomatic and mechanical responses to repeated movements and sustained positions in the direction of preference. The method will be used for assessment and treatment of patients and with derangement syndrome.
The University of Lahore
Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan
Pain Intensity
Level of pain intensity will be measured using Numeric Rating Scale. The 11-point numeric scale ranges from '0' representing no pain to '10' representing the extreme pain
Time frame: Pain intensity will be recorded as baseline at the time of recruitment and change in pain intensity will be observed at follow up at the end of 3rd week of treatment.
Lumbar Range of Motion
Lumbar Range of motion will be measured using inclinometers. Normal lumbar range of motion include 60 degrees of flexion, 25 degrees of extension, and 25 degrees of lateral bending
Time frame: Lumbar Range of Motion will be observed as baseline at the time of recruitment and change in ROM will be observed at follow up at end of 3rd week of treatment.
Level of Functional Disability
Functional Disability will be measured with the Modified Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire. The scores range from 0-100% with lower scores meaning less disability.
Time frame: Functional Disability will be recorded as baseline at the time of recruitment and change in score of functional disability will be recorded at the end of 3rd week of treatment.
Change in Fear Avoidance Beliefs
Fear Avoidance Beliefs will be observed using Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire. There is a maximum score of 96. A higher score indicates more strongly held fear avoidance beliefs.
Time frame: Fear Avoidance Beliefs will be observed as baseline at the time of recruitment and any change in Fear Avoidance Beliefs will be observed at the end of 3rd week of treatment.
Change in Muscle Activation of Lumbar Multifidus (LM) and Transversus Abdominis (TrA)
Muscle Activation of Lumbar Multifidus (LM) and Transversus Abdominis (TrA) will be measured with Rehabilitative Ultrasound Imaging (RUSI).The activation of muscle is represented through change in thickness level of muscle observed through RUSI. The normal thickness of TrA is 3.93mm and LM is 28.99mm.
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It includes usual physical therapy care such as Therapeutic Ultrasound, Moist Heat-pack, TENS and standard exercises.
Time frame: The Thickness of muscles will be recorded as baseline at the time of recruitment and change in thickness representing activation will be measured at follow up at the end of 3rd week of treatment.