| Summary: | Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master’s
Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, 2007. === The aim of this research was to investigate the relative effectiveness of
manipulation versus core rehabilitation in the treatment of acute mechanical low
back pain in sedentary patients.
Recent research has found that dysfunction of the primary core stabiliser
muscles is linked with an increasing number of the general population suffering
from low back pain; this is thought to be due to the fact that people in general are
living more sedentary lifestyles.
The Aims and Objectives of this study were to determine the relative effect of
manipulation and core rehabilitation in sedentary patients suffering from acute
mechanical low back pain in terms of subjective findings, objective findings and
to determine any correlations between these findings
Thirty-two participants, with acute low back pain participated in the study. They
received treatment over a period of three weeks, two treatments in the first week,
two treatments in the second week and a follow up seven days later. Group A
received a spinal manipulation while Group B received core rehabilitation
exercises. Readings were taken at three time points, namely visit one, three and
five before the treatment, they included the following readings: Numerical Pain Rating Scale, Algometer, Roland Morris Low Back Pain and Disability
Questionnaire, Biofeedback Stabiliser and the Surface EMG.
The results showed that there was no differential (p<0.05) treatment effect
between the two Groups, and that both Groups showed a clinical improvement in
their low back pain.
In conclusion, it appears that even though both these treatment protocols have
very different mechanisms of action, both can be effective treatment protocols
and that core rehabilitation exercises when properly performed are as effective
as manipulation in the treatment of acute low back pain.
|
|---|
