Short-Term Effectiveness of Sand Bag Breathing Technique on Subjects with Mechanical Low Back Pain-A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Mechanical low back pain is a common cumulative musculoskeletal problem if left untreated may cause severe derangements in the spine leading to excruciating pain. The diaphragm forms a major part of the core muscle, which has a connection with obliques, rectus abdominis and transverses abdominis which further connects with latissimus dorsii and other back extensors via spiral muscle sling. Sand Bag breathing technique a type of PNF is well understood in treating respiratory disorders like asthma and COPD as it helps in the relaxation of the muscles and improves the efficiency of the respiratory muscles, thus having a positive effect on breathing. Dirth in the literature suggests that less studies have been conducted demonstrating the effects of San Bag Breathing on low back ache. Hence this study is been undertaken. Objective: To investigate the Effectiveness of Sand Bag Breathing in subjects with mechanical low back pain. Methodology: This is a randomized controlled trial conducted on mechanical low back pain 50 subjects who were divided into two groups; experimental and control. Results: Results indicated that therapy was statistically significant in the outcome measures: Pain (0.05 and 0.05), Resting Muscle thickness of Multifidus (<0.05 and 0.214), Kinesiophobia (0.05 and 0.765) and modified Oswestry disability questionnaire (0.05 and 0.212) for experimental and control group respectively. Conclusion: The Sand Bag Breathing Technique showed a significant effect in, improving the parameters related to mechanical low back pain thus suggesting it to be used as a protocol for treating subjects with back aches.

The Effects Of Lumbar Stabilization Exercises On A Swiss Ball In Patients With Mechanical Low Back Pain

Background: Mechanical low back pain is one of the most common causes of discomfort amongst people all over. There are various exercises to reduce low back pain. Swiss ball exercises are one of the dynamic exercises which increase muscle strength, endurance, balance, and flexibility of the trunk while the individual leans on a swiss ball. Therefore the purpose of this study was to check the effects of lumbar stabilization exercises on a swiss ball in patients with mechanical low back pain. Methods: Forty participants out of which 30 were females and 10 were males who were suffering from mechanical low back pain between the age group of 20 to 60 years were included. They were divided into two groups, with each group having 20 subjects. One group was taught floor exercises, and the other was taught swiss ball exercises for two weeks thrice a week,i.e., six days. The pain and disability were checked with the Numeric Rating Scale, and Roland Morris Questionnaire scores respectively pre and post-intervention. Results: On comparison of the difference between both the groups the mean difference in the NRS and RMQ scores for floor group was one ± 1 and 0.75 ± 1.6(p<0.05). The mean difference in the NRS and RMQ scores for swiss ball group was 2.6 ± 0.5 and 3.7 ± 1.26(p<0.05). Conclusion: We can conclude that lumbar stabilization exercises on a swiss ball are effective in reducing mechanical low back pain compared to exercises done on the static surface.

Work-Related Low Back Pain Treatment: A Randomized Controlled Trial from Tehran, Iran, Comparing Multidisciplinary Educational Program versus Physiotherapy Education

STUDY DESIGN: Clinical trial. PURPOSE: To compare the multidisciplinary educational program versus physiotherapy education among Iranian nurses. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Low back pain (LBP) can accompany significant occupational injuries in the nursing profession. There is no agreement on the most effective educational practice. METHODS: This study was conducted from August 17, 2014 to September 22, 2014 in Tehran, Iran. Eligible nurses with chronic mechanical LBP (n=136) were classified into an intervention group (n=66) or the control group (n=70). The intervention group received physiotherapy education for 120-minutes followed by a 120-minute health education session based on predictive constructs of social cognitive theory (SCT). The control group received the 120-minute physiotherapy education. Disability rate, pain severity and back pain prevention behavior were measured at initially and 3 months after intervention using visual analogue scale, Roland-Morris disability questionnaire and nursing low back pain preventive behaviors questionnaire. RESULTS: The two groups were the same in terms of all studied variables at the initiation of the study. At the 3-month follow up, predictive constructs of LBP preventive behaviors of participants in the intervention were improved (p<0.001). Significant decreases were evident at 3 months in pain severity (p=0.03) and disability (p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The designed multidisciplinary educational intervention could decrease chronic mechanical LBP in nurses.

The relationship between mechanical low back pain and lumbar curvature angle among computer users.

Aim: To determine the relationship between mechanical low back pain and lumber curvature angle among bank worker computer users. Material and methods: 30 male bank worker computer users were working for continuous 4-hours at least/day, five days/week, selected randomly from National Bank of Egypt, kafrelshiekh governorate, Egypt. They divided into 2 equal groups (A and B). Male in group (A) were suffering from low back pain (LBP) within the last 6 month; male in group (B) were free from LBP. Their age was ranged from 25 to 30 years. Their body mass index was less 30 Kg/m. Lumbar curvature angle and pain intensity were measured by using the flexible ruler and visual analog scale for each participants in both groups (A and B). Results: There were significant differences in participant’s low back pain intensity (P = 0.001) and lumbar curvature angle (P = 0.001) between both groups. There was a statistically significant correlation between the pain intensity in lower back and lumbar curvature angle (P=0.001) between both groups. There was a statistically significant correlation between the pain intensity in lower back and lumbar curvature angle in both group ( A and B) (r = 0.463 and 0.37 respectively), as the pain intensity increased by increased lumber curvatuer angle. Conclusions: The bank worker computer users were more exposed to low back pain due to flattening of lumbar curve.

Lumbalgia mecánica crónica en pacientes con vértebras limbus anterior: revisión de la literatura y presentación de tres casos clínicos / Chronic mechanical low back pain in patients with anterior limbus vertebra: a review of the literature and a study of three cases

La vertebra limbus es un hallazgo radiológico de prevalencia desconocida y significado incierto. Se trata de un defecto óseo que afecta al margen de los cuerpos vertebrados, con un fragmento desprendido de morfología triangular y bordes escleróticos. Se produce como consecuencia de una herniación intraósea del núcleo pulposo a través del anillo apofisario vertebral, antes de la fusión completa del cuerpo vertebral. En este artículo se describe tres casos clínicos de pacientes jóvenes (de 19, 20 y 22 años), reclusos en el Centro Penitenciario de Jóvenes (Barcelona, España), diagnosticados de lumbalgía mecánica crónica, y portadores de vértebras limbus lumbar. Nuestros hallazgos, y la revisión sistemática de la escasa literatura disponible, ponen en duda algunas convicciones actuales sobre la vértebra limbus.

The limbus vertebra is a radiological finding of unknown prevalence and uncertain significance. This is a bone defect which affects themargin of the vertebral bodies, with a triangular-shaped detached fragment and sclerotic margins. This occurs as a result of an intraosseus herniation of the nucleus pulposus through the vertebral apophyseal ring before the complete fusion of the vertebral body. In this paper we describe the clinical cases of three young patients(aged 19, 20 and 22), in mates of the Young Offenders Institute of Barcelona, Spain, who were diagnosed with chronic mechanical lowback pain and suffered from lumbar limbus vertebrae. Our findings, and the systematic review of the limited literature available, question some of the current beliefs about limbus vertebrae.