Santos M1, Sousa L1, Guimarães L1, Vasconcelos M1, Develly P1, Camargo T1, Fernandes B2, Trevisani V3
1Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, Physiotherapy, Poços de Caldas, Brazil, 2Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas, Physiotherapy, Poços de Caldas, Brazil, 3Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP, VVVV, São Paulo, Brazil
Background: Spinal pain affects a large number of people worldwide and constitutes a major public health problem. This disorder may result in physical, emotional, and social problems, as well as work absence, difficulty in performing activities of daily living, disability, and reduction of quality of life. Different therapeutic modalities are available for the treatment of spinal pain, including therapeutic exercises, which are widely used. Exercises can help patients with chronic spinal pain to return to work and normal daily activities, and prevent recurrence and reinforcement of kinesiophobia, especially individual exercise programs carried out under the supervision of a physiotherapist. However, there are still no clear recommendations on what type of exercise is the most effective against spinal pain.
Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of "Global Postural Reeducation" (GPR) and segmental stretching exercises in the treatment of chronic spinal pain.
Methods: This randomized assessor-blind controlled trial was conducted at the Physical Therapy Clinic of the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, Poços de Caldas campus, Brazil. One hundred and fifty patients of both genders with a mean age of 40.15±11.55 years who had pain in some segment of the spine for at least three months. All patients were allocated randomly into three groups and received "global postural reeducation" (GPR group), segmental stretching (SS group) and no intervention (control group), respectively. Outcomes measured were pain (numerical rating scale), functional disability (Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, RMDQ), health-related quality of life (HRQoL; Short-Form 36 Health Survey, SF-36), and use of pain medication. Patients were assessed at baseline, at the end of treatment, and at 2 months after treatment.
Results: Both methods were effective in reducing pain, improving functional disability and quality of life (bodily pain and vitality), and reducing the use of medication (P 0.05). The GPR proved to be better in pain intensity reduction than segmental stretching (P 0.05). In addition, the improvement in quality of life (role physical and general health) was observed in patients treated with GPR compared with those of the control group (P 0.05).
Conclusion(s): Both treatment methods were effective in the treatment of chronic spinal pain, however, regarding pain reduction, GPR showed better results compared with segmental stretching exercises.
Implications: The results of this study indicated that both methods (GPR and segmental stretching exercises) were effective in reducing pain, improving functional disability and quality of life and reducing the use of medication in patients with spinal pain. However, other trials are needed to confirm the results of the present study.
Keywords: Low back pain, randomized controlled trial., muscle stretching exercises
Funding acknowledgements: None.
Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of "Global Postural Reeducation" (GPR) and segmental stretching exercises in the treatment of chronic spinal pain.
Methods: This randomized assessor-blind controlled trial was conducted at the Physical Therapy Clinic of the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, Poços de Caldas campus, Brazil. One hundred and fifty patients of both genders with a mean age of 40.15±11.55 years who had pain in some segment of the spine for at least three months. All patients were allocated randomly into three groups and received "global postural reeducation" (GPR group), segmental stretching (SS group) and no intervention (control group), respectively. Outcomes measured were pain (numerical rating scale), functional disability (Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, RMDQ), health-related quality of life (HRQoL; Short-Form 36 Health Survey, SF-36), and use of pain medication. Patients were assessed at baseline, at the end of treatment, and at 2 months after treatment.
Results: Both methods were effective in reducing pain, improving functional disability and quality of life (bodily pain and vitality), and reducing the use of medication (P 0.05). The GPR proved to be better in pain intensity reduction than segmental stretching (P 0.05). In addition, the improvement in quality of life (role physical and general health) was observed in patients treated with GPR compared with those of the control group (P 0.05).
Conclusion(s): Both treatment methods were effective in the treatment of chronic spinal pain, however, regarding pain reduction, GPR showed better results compared with segmental stretching exercises.
Implications: The results of this study indicated that both methods (GPR and segmental stretching exercises) were effective in reducing pain, improving functional disability and quality of life and reducing the use of medication in patients with spinal pain. However, other trials are needed to confirm the results of the present study.
Keywords: Low back pain, randomized controlled trial., muscle stretching exercises
Funding acknowledgements: None.
Topic: Musculoskeletal: spine; Disability & rehabilitation; Pain & pain management
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)
Ethics committee: Ethics Committee - UNIFESP
Ethics number: 0350/07
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
