ABSTRACT
Background: Non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) is pain not attributed
to a recognizable pathology, not attributable to a known cause, represents
90–95% of the cases of LBP. Objectives: to investigate the combined
effect of Maitland spinal mobilization and lumbar traction on pain
intensity, range of motion (ROM), and functional disability in patients
with chronic nonspecific low back pain. Design: A randomized
controlled trial. Subjects and Methods: Forty-four subjects with chronic
nonspecific low back pain participated in this study, their ages ranged
from 20 to 30 years. Participants were randomly subdivided into four
equal groups (each consist of 11 patient and received 3sessions per week
for 4 weeks): Group (A): received central posterior-anterior mobilization
in addition to conventional physical therapy and advices. Group (B):
received intermittent mechanical lumbar traction in addition to
conventional physical therapy and advices. Group (C): received
intermittent mechanical lumbar traction with central posterior-anterior
mobilization in addition to conventional physical therapy and advices.
Group (D) (Control group): received conventional physical therapy
(Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, Infrared, and Isometric
exercise) and advices. outcome measures: Pain intensity assessed by
visual analogue scale (VAS), lumbar ROM assessed by Bubble
Inclinometer, and functional disability assessed by the Arabic version of
modified Oswestry disability questionnaire (MODQ). All outcomes were
taken pre and post treatment. Results: Multiple comparison analysis
showed a potential difference between groups in terms of the selected
parameters, while the major changes favored group C, where (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The combined effect of Maitland spinal mobilization and
intermittent mechanical lumbar traction on pain intensity, lumbar ROM,
Egypt. J. of Appl. Sci., 35(12) 2020 136-150
and functional disability in patients with chronic nonspecific low back
pain is more effective than one of them alone.