Comparison of the impact of two physiotherapeutic methods on pain and disability in patients with non-specific low back pain: a controlled clinical pilot study

Abstract

Background. lower back pain (lBP) is a serious public health problem which is widespread, particularly in developed countries. Objectives. The aim of this study was to compare the impact of two physical therapy approaches, i.e., acral Coactivation Therapy (aCT) and conventional therapy, in terms of intensity of pain and disability in patients with non-specific lBP. Material and methods. Thirty patients in subacute or chronic stages of lBP were involved in this single-blind pilot study. The experimental group consisted of 15 patients (age: 39.3 ± 6.3; BmI: 27.1 ± 5.2) who worked out according to aCT. The control group included 15 patients (age: 45.3 ± 7.1; BmI: 27.8 ± 5.8) who followed conventional therapy. The patients in both groups completed 10 therapy sessions. The short-Form mcgill Pain Questionnaire (sF-mPQ) was used to assess any change in pain between the first and last therapy sessions, and the visual analogue scale (vas) was applied to assess current pain before and after each therapy session. The oswestry disability Index (odI) was used to assess the effect on disability. Results. The patients who followed aCT showed a larger decrease in the scores of almost all criteria of pain assessment on the sF-mPQ (p < 0.05), a larger decrease in current pain evaluation according to the vas within individual therapy sessions (p < 0.05), and a larger decrease in disability score in the odI (p < 0.05) in comparison with the control group. Conclusions. aCT is an efficient therapy for pain reduction, both immediately after a workout and long-term.

Press Up Exercises as an Alternative to Conventional Therapy of Radicular Symptoms in Patients with Low Back Pain

“…When pressing up antagonistic muscle chains are co-activated. Co-activation results in spine straightening and centration of root joints (Palaščáková Špringrová, 2011;Palaščáková Špringrová et al, 2020). We consider press up exercises as a certain type of active traction exercises, the aim of which is automation of acquired motor patterns with the straightened spine based on motor learning in individual ADL.…”

“…In the acute stage it is appropriate to practice the workout several times a day (in our case it was twice a day), thanks to which the patients get used to new movement stereotypes faster and they are earlier able to apply them to ADL. More frequent repetition of press up exercises is beneficial also in terms of clinical symptomatology reduction (Poková et al, 2018;Palaščáková Špringrová et al, 2020). Frequent relief of pain and paresthesia accelerates return to more challenging physical activities and the patients perform their ADL without almost no limitations (Palaščáková Špringrová et al, 2020).…”

“…More frequent repetition of press up exercises is beneficial also in terms of clinical symptomatology reduction (Poková et al, 2018;Palaščáková Špringrová et al, 2020). Frequent relief of pain and paresthesia accelerates return to more challenging physical activities and the patients perform their ADL without almost no limitations (Palaščáková Špringrová et al, 2020). Clinical symptomatology reduction has a positive effect also on mental stability of the patients.…”

“…The therapy consisting of modified motor patterns for ADL can be used also as a selftherapy. Practising and mastering motor skills in the closed kinematic chain (CKC) is an essential factor of correct performance of activities in the open kinematic chain (OKC) according to (Dvořák 2005a(Dvořák , 2005bLatash, 1993;Palaščáková Špringrová, 2011;Vagner et al, 2017;Palaščáková Špringrová et al, 2020). Movements in the CKC allow easier co-activation of muscle chains.…”

Effect of instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization versus kinesiotape for chronic mechanical low back pain: a randomized controlled trial

“…Low back pain (LBP), especially in developing countries, is a serious public health issue. The prevalence of LBP has been found to be over 84% during one's lifetime and the incidence of the chronic mechanical low back pain (CMLBP) at around 23%, with 11-12% of those affected being disabled [1]. it is estimated that 70-85% of the working population has suffered from a LBP episode, with many reports of long periods of absence from their jobs, restricting their physical activity and affecting their output and the quality of life.…”