Effect of Exercise Therapy and Physiotherapy on Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain

Document Type : Original Article(s)

Authors

1 School of Physical Education, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, School of Physical Education, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

3 Associate Professor, School of Physical Education, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

4 Assistant Professor, School of Rehabilitation, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

5 Faculty Member, Sheikhbahaee University, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Background: The aim of present research is to compare the effects of exercise therapy and physiothe-rapy that are two common treatments for pain and disability in patients with chronic low back pain.Methods: In this research 30 patients with chronic low back pain (history of low back pain for at least 3 months) were selected. Patients allocated in two  treatment groups: exercise therapy (n = 17) and physiotherapy (n = 13). Disability was evaluated using oswestry low back pain disability questionnaire (ODQ) and pain intensity was evaluated with the visual analog scale (VAS).Two groups underwent treatment for 6 weeks. Post-test was performed at the end of treatment period. Following collection of primary information and determination of different variable, covariance test with the variety factor (pre-test) in the level of α < 0.05 was used to analyze the data.Findings: Research findings did not show statistical significant difference in pain (P > 0.05) but the difference in functional disability between two groups was significant (P < 0.03).Conclusion: Our results indicate that exercise therapy is better than physiotherapy for disability im-provement in patients with low back pain. Finally, this study recommends that exercise therapy can be an effective modality to management patients with chronic low back pain.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 29, Issue 151 - Serial Number 151
July and August 2011
Pages 1150-1156

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History

  • Receive Date: 21 November 2010
  • Revise Date: 01 November 2024
  • Accept Date: 06 April 2022

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