Effects of Stabilization Exercise on Pain, Cross-Sectional Area and Muscle Thickness of Lumbar Multifidus in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain.

Abstract
Low Back Pain (LBP) is a highly prevalent problem and one of the main causes of disability in the society. About 80-90% of people suffer LBP during their lifetime and it is the second most frequent reason for visits to the physician. Although the aetiology is diverse, many causes have been related to weakness or injury of the soft tissue in the lumbar area. Different treatment modalities have been used in the treatment of LBP, but with temporary relieve of symptoms and lack of improvement of the atrophy of lumbar multifidus muscle which improves the stability of the lumbar spine. This study investigated the effect of stabilization exercise on chronic pain, cross-sectional area and muscle thickness of Lumbar Multifidus (LM) muscle in patients with chronic low back pain. A total of 122 patients (44 males, 78 females) with non-specific chronic low back pain (NCLBP) were recruited from Orthopaedic Clinic of Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi- Araba, Lagos and National Orthopaedic Hospital Igbobi, Lagos. They were randomly assigned to four different groups (1, 2, 3 & 4) using computer generated numbers. The participants went through stabilization exercise only (Group 1) for 30 minutes twice weekly one day interval for 8 consecutive weeks, stabilization exercise for 30 minutes combined with Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) for 10 minutes (Group 2) twice weekly one day interval for 8 consecutive weeks, stabilization exercise for 30 minutes combined with TENS for 10 minutes and massage for 5 minutes (Group 3). Group 4 is the control that was placed on drug therapy. A randomized control study was adopted in this study. Measurement of Cross-Sectional Area (CSA) and muscle thickness of LM muscle, self perceived pain intensity, functional disability and fear were assessed using Ultrasound machine (Mindray 2200), modified visual analogue scale, Oswestry disability questionnaire and fear avoidance belief questionnaire respectively at baseline, end of 4th week and end of 8th week. Data were analysed using statistical package for social science version17 and presented using descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation. Kruskal Wallis test was used to analyse each of the outcome measure parameters and analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyse the cross-sectional area (CSA) and thickness pre and post treatment intervention across the groups. Patients in groups 1, 2 and 3 recorded significant reduction in pain severity, increased functional ability and decreased fear avoidance belief following intervention (P<0.05). Post hoc analysis revealed that the significance lies between group 1&4, group 2&4, groups 3&4 post intervention assessment. This reveals that the intervention used in the course of this study was effective in the management of patients with chronic low back pain. There was predominant increase in the CSA at 4th and 5th lumbar vertebrae only with more increment in group 1 with a mean and standard deviation of 11.85± 1.99 at 4th lumbar vertebrae and 12.10 ± 2.19 at 5th lumbar vertebrae. There was increase in the LM muscle thickness at L4-L5 post-intervention assessment with more increment in group 1 with a mean and standard deviation of 3.19 ± 0.69, within the three groups these shows that stabilization exercise alone and in combination with TENS and massage are effective in increasing the CSA and thickness of lumbar multifidus muscle in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain. The study established that stabilization exercise only and in combination with TENS and massage is effective in managing patients with non-specific chronic low back pain (NCLBP). It was also established that assessment of CSA and muscle thickness of LM can be used as a measure of treatment improvement or progression in patients with NCLBP.
Description
A Thesis Submitted to the School of Postgraduate Studies, University of Lagos.
Keywords
Low Back Pain , Muscle Thickness , Patients , Exercise , Research Subject Categories::INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH AREAS::Sports
Citation
Akodu, A.K (2014), Effects of Stabilization Exercise on Pain, Cross-Sectional Area and Muscle Thickness of Lumbar Multifidus in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain. A Thesis Submitted to University of Lagos School of Postgraduate Studies Phd Thesis and Dissertation, 150pp.