File
BenMulayh E.1, Gaowgzeh R.A.1
1King Abdulaziz University, Physical Therapy, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Background: An improved form of traction therapy has recently been used, represented as spinal decompression therapy (SDT) as a conservative treatment for lumbar disc prolapse (LDP) which is a common condition that can result in chronic low back pain and other associated problems affecting the activities of daily living. The current study is to assess the effect of SDT and core stabilization exercises (CSE) in management of chronic LDP.
Purpose: Assess how SDT and CSE combined with physiotherapy modalities influence pain and disability in subjects with chronic LDP, and to compare it to CSE alone.
Methods: Forty-three participants (Male:24, Female:19) with chronic LDP with or without radiating pain aged between 25-60 years with mean age 37.67±9.42 years were recruited for the study. Subjects were divided into SDT with CSE group and CSE alone group, and both the groups additionally received cryotherapy and interferential therapy. The intervention was given for approximately 30 minutes per session for 20 sessions which lasted for 6 weeks. Pain and disability was assessed with Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and Modified Oswestry Questionnaire (mOQ), A pre-post design was used to assess the outcome. The data were analyzed by using the statistical package SPSS version 17, the level of statistical significance was set at p 0.05.
Results: The demographic profile of subjects in both the groups were comparable. The results demonstrated significant within-group improvements in all outcomes in both groups, the mean differences between pre to post intervention in SDT with CSE group were (NRS:5.2, t=16.61, p≤0.001) and (mOQ:49.57, t=20.77, p≤0.001), while in CSE group were (NRS:2.40, t=15.77, p≤0.001) and (mOQ:26.10, t=28.63, p≤0.001). As compared to CSE group, there was significant reduction of NRS by 52% and mOQ by 49% in SDT with CSE group compared to 24% of NRS and 26% of mOQ in CSE group. The mean differences for the post-intervention values between groups were (NRS:2.82, t=8.07, p≤0.001) and (mOQ:23.47, t=9.19, p≤0.001).
Conclusion(s): A combination of SDT with CSE is proven to be more significant when compared with CSE alone, however CSE alone has given a significant effect to reduce pain and disability in patients with chronic LDP. Further studies are needed to identify the best modality combined with SDT to improve its therapeutic effects.
Implications: This study shows that subjects with chronic LDP can be effectively treated with SDT with CSE combined with physiotherapy modalities, while the addition of the SDT results in better clinical outcome in consideration of patients condition, cost, and time.
Funding acknowledgements: King Abdulaziz University - Physical Therapy Department, Abdullatif Jameel Hospital and Rehabilitation Center.
Topic: Musculoskeletal: spine
Ethics approval: The study was approved by the ethical committee of Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
