Affiliations: [a] Department of Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation School, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran | [b] Emam Reza Hospital, Army University of Medical Sciences of IR.Iran, Tehran, Iran | [c] Mostafa Hospital, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Safoora Ebadi, PhD PT, Department of Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Tel.: +98 21 440 15 819; Mobile: +98 912 17 57 107; E-mail: s_ebadi@razi.tums.ac.ir, e_safoora@hotmail.com
Abstract: Aim:The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of continuous ultrasound (US) plus exercise on the endurance of paravertebral muscles of patients with chronic non specific low back pain (CNSLBP). Methods and Materials:In this pilot, pretest-posttest study, 22 patients with CNSLBP participated. Patients received 10 sessions of treatment, including continuous US plus exercise therapy, over a period of four consecutive weeks. Median frequency slopes of Iliocostalis and Multifidus muscles as well as holding time during Biering-Sorensen test were measured using surface electromyography. In addition, function and pain were measured using Functional Rating Index (FRI) questionnaire and VAS. Results:Five females and 15 males with a mean age of 31.7 years completed the treatment. Descriptive data showed a decrease of 0.01 and 0.02 mean in median frequency slope of right and left Iliocostalis respectively and a mean of 0.08 decrease for both right and left Multifidus muscles. Endurance time increased 1.8 seconds mean. Both function (17%) and pain (24%) improved post treatment. Conclusion:Larger population studies in the context of high quality, randomized clinical trial are needed to validate the results.
Keywords: Chronic low back pain, fatigue, endurance, ultrasound, exercise
