ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to compare the effect of muscle energy technique versus combined spinal flexion-extension exercises on reduction of pain severity, functional disability; and increasing the range of motion of trunk flexion, extension, right, and left bending in mechanical low back pain patients. Forty male and female patients diagnosed as chronic mechanical low back pain participated in this study. Patients were divided randomly into two groups, the first group [Group A] consisted of 11 male and 9 female patients with a mean age 33 [ +/- 1.58] years treated with the combined spinal flexion-extension exercises program, the second group [Group B] consisted of 9 male and 11 female patients with a mean age 30.20 [ +/- 1.57] years treated with the muscle energy technique. Both groups were treated for 12 sessions, 3 sessions per week [each other day]. Patients were assessed before and after treatment by visual analouge scale, Oswestry disability index, and tape measurements. Both groups had significantly less low back pain severity and less functional disability after treatment. The improvement of pain and function in the muscle energy technique group was more than the combined spinal flexion-extension group. The combined spinal flexion-extension exercise were more effective in increasing lumbar flexion and extension motions than the muscle energy technique. There was no significant difference between groups regarding increasing the right and left trunk bending motions. The muscle energy technique is more effective than the combined spinal flexion-extension exercises in reducing low back pain severity and functional disability and is recommended to be used for patients with chronic mechanical low back pain. Spinal flexion-extension exercises are recommended to be used when increasing lumbar flexion and extension motions is an additional goal of treatment