engleski

Comparison of the effectiveness of land-based and water-based therapeutic exercises on the range of spinal movement in patients with chronic low-back pain

Objective: Exercise therapy is the base in treatment and rehabilitation of patients with low-back pain. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of water-based exercise versus land-based exercise therapy according to the range of motion in thoracic and lumbar spine in adult patient with chronic low-back pain. Methods: Seventy-two patients (36 men, age 48.42±9.60 years ; 36 women, age 48.81±6.44 years) with chronic low-back pain hospitalized for inpatient treatment in a special rehabilitation hospital were included in the study. Thirty-six patients (half in each gender group) performed 3-week standardized programme of group land-based exercises and the other 36 of them programme of group water-based exercises, both supervised by physiotherapist. All the patients were, also treated with electro analgesic therapy (TENS, interferential currents) and massage, while no painkillers (paracetamol, NSAIDs) were allowed to be changed, during the study. Measurements of range of motion of thoracic and lumbar spine were obtained at the beginning and at the end of the treatment. It included Schober’s test (in cm), right and left lateral flexion (distance fingers-floor in cm) and trunk flexion (distance fingers-floor in cm). Level of significance was determinited to P-value <0, 1. Results: There were no differences in baseline characteristics between two groups. Improvement in all variables was observed at the end of the treatment regardless the type of exercise, but there was no significant difference among two regimes of exercises at the end of treatment. Conclusion: In our sample of patients with chronic low-back pain exercise treatment, along with other rehabilitation treatments, improved function and range of motion. Comparison of land-based exercises and water-based exercises demonstrated no statistically significant different results among these two regimes of treatment.

chronic low back pain; range of movement; rehabilitation in rheumatology

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