THE EFFECTS OF SPINAL FLEXION AND EXTENSION EXERCISES ON LOW BACK PAIN SEVERITY AND SPINAL MOBILITY IN CHRONIC MECHANICAL LOW BACK PAIN.
Contributors: New York University.
Published: 1988
Number of pages: 166
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The major purpose of this study was to compare the effects of spinal flexion and extension exercises on low back pain severity and thoracolumbar spinal mobility in chronic mechanical low back pain patients. Secondarily, the purpose was to examine the relationship between the changes in low back pain severity and the changes in the thoracolumbar spinal mobility after treatment.

Fifty-six male and female patients, between the ages of 20-50 years with the diagnosis of chronic mechanical low back pain were randomly assigned to the spinal flexion and extension exercise groups and given 14 treatment sessions over a two-week period. The program of spinal flexion exercises, used in this study, was based on Williams' protocol of treatment, while the program of spinal extension exercises was derived from McKenzie's therapeutic technique for the lumbar spine.

A pre-post experimental study design was used. Low back pain severity was assessed by the use of the rank values of the pain rating index of the modified McGill Pain Questionnaire. The sagittal, coronal and transverse mobility of the thoracolumbar spine were measured by the 3 Space Tracker (Polhemus Navigation, Mcdonnell Douglas Corporation, Colchester, Vermont, U.S.A.).

The results indicated no significant intergroup difference in reduction of low back pain severity; however, both groups had significantly less pain after treatment. Insofar as the increasing of sagittal mobility was concerned, there was a significant intergroup difference, biased in favor of the flexion group. No significant difference was found between and/or within groups where increasing the coronal and the transverse mobility was concerned. Meanwhile, significant weak to moderate negative correlations between changes in low back pain severity and changes in the sagittal, coronal and transverse mobilities were found.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-10, Section: B, page: 4229.

Thesis (PH.D.)--NEW YORK UNIVERSITY, 1988.

School code: 0146.