Efficacy of prone lumbar traction on chronic discogenic low back pain and disability

ABSTRACT

To compare the outcomes of prone and supine lumbar traction in patients with chronic discogenic low back pain. Prospective, randomized control trial. Urban Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation clinic. A total of 124 subjects with chronic low back pain [LBP] and evidence of a degenerative and/or herniated inter-vertebral disk at 1 or more levels of the lumbar spine, who have not our exclusion criteria. A 4-week course of lumbar traction, prone or supine in case and control groups consecutively, consisting of six 30-minute sessions every other days, followed by four 30-minute sessions every 3 days. The numeric Visual pain rating scale and the Oswestry Disability Index [ODI] were completed at pre-intervention and discharge [within 2 weeks of the last visit]. A total of 124 subjects completed the treatment protocol. We noted significant improvements for all post-intervention outcome scores when compared with pre-intervention scores [P<0.01]. Also found significant difference between 2 groups in favor of prone traction [P<0.01]. Traction applied in the prone position for 4 weeks was associated with improvements in pain intensity and ODI scores at discharge, in a sample of patients with activity limiting LBP. However, because we lacked a reasonable long time follow-up, we cannot imply a long lasting relationship between the traction and outcome, and a long time follow-up is suggested