Raza T, Riaz S, Ahmad F, Shehzadi I, Ijaz N, Ali S. Investigating the Effects of Retro Walking on Pain, Physical Function, and Flexibility in Chronic Non-specific Low Back Pain. Iranian Rehabilitation Journal 2023; 21 (2) :309-318
URL:
http://irj.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-1735-en.html
1- Riphah Rehabilitation Centre, Lahore, Pakistan.
2- Department of Physical Therapy, College of Riphah Rehabilitation & Allied Health Sciences, Riphah International University, Lahore, Pakistan.
3- Zohra Shafee Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.
4- Khadija Poly Clinic, Hospital Sheikhupura, Punjab, Pakistan.
Abstract: (1834 Views)
Objectives: Chronic non-specific low back pain (CNSLBP) is described as pain whose pathoanatomical cause cannot be determined. The current study aims to evaluate the impact of retro-walking on pain, flexibility, and physical functions in patients with CNSLBP.
Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in the Physical Therapy Department of District Head Quarter Hospital Nankana Sahib, Punjab, Pakistan from September 2021 to March 2022. The trial was conducted on 36 patients, randomly divided into 2 groups of 18 patients. Conventional treatment and retro-walking were given to the experimental group and the conventional treatment alone was provided to the control group for 1 month with 3 sessions per week. The outcome variables were pain, the flexibility of hamstrings and lumbar region, and physical function assessed by numeric pain rating scale, sit and reach test, modified Schober test, and modified Oswestry disability index, respectively. The data were assessed at pre-treatment after the sixth and twelfth sessions.
Results: This study showed a significant difference in the numeric pain rating scale, sit-and-reach test, and modified Oswestry disability index with a P<0.05 in both groups after intervention. However, in the group comparison, these variables showed better results in the retro-walking group compared to others with a P<0.001 after both the sixth and twelfth sessions.
Discussion: The current study suggested that when added up to conventional treatment, retro-walking was more beneficial in reducing pain and enhancing the flexibility and physical function in patients with CNSLBP when compared to conventional treatment alone; therefore, it should be added to the treatment protocol for chronic non-specific pain in the lower back.
Coresponding author: Tahreem Raza, E-mail: tehreemraza15@gmail.com
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The addition of retro-walking to conventional treatment for both 2 and 4 weeks can decrease low back pain.
• The flexibility of the lumbar region and hamstring can be improved after following retro-walking protocol both for 2 and 4 weeks.
• Physical function in non-specific lower back pain patients can be improved after adding retro-walking to conventional treatment.
Plain Language Summary
Non-specific pain in the lower back is one of the most significant issues for the public health system. Almost all adult individuals are affected by the problem of pain in their back at least once during their lifespan. Moving ability in a backward direction is vital for daily life and an individual can adapt to this activity without any difficulty. It could be a source of significant improvement in symptoms in patients with back pain and be performed independently without the requirement of supervised care. The current study investigated its effect in addition to conventional treatment in pain, physical function, and flexibility in lower back pain patients. The results showed that retro-walking decreased pain and improved flexibility and physical function after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment.
Article type:
Original Research Articles |
Subject:
Physiotherapy Received: 2022/07/26 | Accepted: 2023/03/14 | Published: 2023/06/7
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