![Sample our Health and Social Care journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5938/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Health-Social-Care.jpg"})
Abstract
Introduction
The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of the Mézières Method (MM) on pain and disability related to low back pain (LBP), compared to a program of heat, massage and exercise, and to understand the meaning of the bodily experience with the MM.
Patients and methods
Mixed methods convergent parallel design, combining an equivalent randomized clinical trial with a qualitative phenomenological approach. Sixty-one participants aged 18–65 years with chronic non-specific LBP lasting more than 3 months. Patients were randomized into two groups: the MM group (n = 29) and the comparison group (CG) who received heat, massage plus flexibility and strengthening exercises (n = 31). MM and CG participants underwent 10 one-hour physical therapy sessions over a 5-week period and were evaluated three times: pre-intervention, post-intervention and follow-up at 6 weeks after the end of treatment.
Results
Both groups reported positive effects on LBP . MM group showed superior effects in pain relief in the short term (Cohen’s D 0.80; p = 0.004). Participants interpreted the interaction with the MM as a teaching–learning process that allowed body awareness.
Conclusion
Both treatment were similarly beneficial but MM had superior effects on pain in the short term. MM is perceived by the participants as a teaching–learning process focused on body awareness that facilitate effective management of LBP.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank to Professor Gwendolen Jull, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland for her assistance during the production of this paper.
Authors contributions
MLAM: Study design, article drafting, data analysis, article approval.
MGB: Analysis of quantitative data, article approval.
RSM: Advice and support in the analysis and interpretation of qualitative data, article approval.
ZPG: Qualitative data analysis, article approval
JRM: Data analysis, article approval.
ALCG: Data collection, methodology, approval of the article.
LKZC: Article drafting, data collection, article approval.
MLRV: Support quantitative analysis, article approval.
Disclosure statement
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Data availability statement
The data availability is in the process of being published in the intellectum repository. If this information is required, please contact the author of the correspondence.