• BaigAftab Ahmed MirzaAAMAftab Ahmed Mirza Baig, Lecturer of Physiotherapy, Department of Physiotherapy, Institute of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan., Syed Imran Ahmed, Syed Shahzad Ali, Asim Rahmani, and Faizan Siddiqui.
• Aftab Ahmed Mirza Baig, Lecturer of Physiotherapy, Department of Physiotherapy, Institute of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
• Pak J Med Sci. 2018 Mar 1; 34 (2): 435-439.

Background & ObjectiveLow back pain (LBP) is the foremost cause to hamper an individual's functional activities in Pakistan. Its impact on the quality of life and work routine makes it a major reason for therapeutic consultations. About 90% of the cases with LBP are non-specific. Various options are available for the treatment of LBP. Posterior-anterior vertebral mobilization, a manual therapy technique; and thermotherapy are used in clinical practice, however evidence to gauge their relative efficacy is yet to be synthesised. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of posterior-anterior vertebral mobilization versus thermotherapy in the management of non-specific low back pain along with general stretching exercises.MethodsA randomised controlled trial with two-group pretest-posttest design was conducted at IPM&R, Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS). A total of 60 Non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) patients with ages from 18 to 35 years were inducted through non-probability and purposive sampling technique. Baseline screening was done using an assessment form (Appendix-I). Subjects were allocated into two groups through systematic random sampling. Group-A (experimental group) received posterior-anterior vertebral mobilization with general stretching exercises while group B (control group) received thermotherapy with general stretching exercises. Pain and functional disability were assessed using NPRS and RMDQ respectively. Pre & post treatment scores were documented. A maximum drop-out rate of 20% was assumed. Recorded data were entered into SPSS V-19. Frequency and percentages were calculated for categorical variables. Intragroup and intergroup analyses were done using Wilcoxon signed ranked test and Mann-Whitney Test respectively. A P-value of 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsPre and post treatment analysis revealed that P-values for both pain and disability were less than 0.05, suggesting significant difference in NPRS and RMDQ scores. Whereas, median scores for both pain and disability were decreased by 75% in experimental group and 50% in control group. For inter group analysis p-values for both pain and disability were found to be less than 0.05.ConclusionBoth physiotherapeutic interventions, the PAVMs and thermotherapy, have significant effects on NSLBP in terms of relieving pain and improving functional disability. However PAVMs appeared to be more effective than thermotherapy.

2 keywords...

hide…