Postisometric Relaxation Versus High Velocity Low Amplitude Techniques in Low Back Pain

Summary

64 outpatients with low back pain lasting no more than one month participated in the present study. They were randomly divided into 3 groups. The first group (n=22) was treated by postisometric relaxation (PR) of the intrinsic low back muscles and the iliopsoas. The second group (n=21) was treated by rotary manipulation (RM) directed to the lumbar intervertebral joints. The third (control) group (n=21) received sham mobilisation of the spine. The duration of the treatment course was 20 days and included 12 procedures for the PR group, 2-4 manipulations for the RM group, and 4 sham mobilisations for the control group (CO). In order to objectify the therapeutic results, we used a method for simultaneous recording of the isometric axial trunk torque and integrated EMG activity of the low back muscles. Each patient was examined before and after the first procedure and before and after the last procedure. The results showed statistically significant improvement after the first procedure for the therapeutic groups (p<0.05), whereas the beneficial effect in the CO was not significant (p>0.05). Although the results were comparatively better in the RM group than the PR group, the difference between these two groups was statistically not significant after the first procedure. At the end of treatment, the results were again comparatively better in he RM group than in the PR group, but this difference was still not significant (p>0.05). The overall improvement from treatment was significantly higher for the therapeutic groups in comparison with the control group (p<0.05).