Effect of global postural reeducation on chronic low pain patients with lower cross syndrome

Abstract

Background Today, low back pain is a serious global health issue. Currently, 85% of low back pain is caused by muscular imbalance and is a result of Lower cross syndrome (LCS), which are chronic postural defects. The physical therapy technique known as Global Postural Re-education (GPR) was created in France and is based on the concept that muscle chains make up the entire muscular system. Aim The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of global postural re-education on low back pain patients with lower cross syndrome. Design Prospective pre and post-test, single-blind randomized controlled trial. Setting Outpatient physio therapy clinic at Damanhur teaching hospital. Population Fifty participants (25 to 40 years old) suffer from low back pain with lower cross syndrome. Methods Participants were randomly assigned to two equal groups: global posture re-education approach and conventional physiotherapy was given to study group "A" and conventional physiotherapy was given to control group "B" throughout the course of 15 treatment sessions, twice sessions weekly. The patients' pre- and post-treatment progress was assessed using the clinometer digital smartphone application to measure anterior pelvic tilting, flexible ruler to measure lumbar lordosis, Modified Thomas test to measure hip flexor flexibility, Visual analogue scale (VAS) to measure pain and Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire Arabic version to measure function disability. Results Comparing the study group and the control group after treatment showed that the study group had a significantly lower anterior pelvic tilting (P = 0.001), lower lumbar lordosis (p = 0,024), higher flexibility of hip flexor muscle (p = 0,001), lower VAS (p = 0,001) and improving in function disability (p = 0,001) compared to the control group. Conclusion Adding a Global postural re-education approach is thought to be effective in treating low back pain patients with lower cross syndrome. Clinical Rehabilitation Impact Global postural re-education approach decreases anterior pelvic tilting angle, lumbar lordotic angle, pain, and disability caused by low back pain and increase hip flexor flexibility.