Efficacy of the lumbar stabilization and thoracic mobilization exercise program on pain intensity and functional disability reduction in chronic low back pain patients with lumbar radiculopathy: A randomized controlled trial
Affiliations: [a] Medical Faculty, University of Novi Sad, Clinical Research, Novi Sad, Serbia | [b] Rehabilitation Clinic “Dr. Miroslav Zotović” Belgrade, University of Belgrade, School of Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia | [c] Medical Faculty, University of Novi Sad, Medical Rehabilitation Clinic, Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Stefan Kostadinović, Medical Faculty, University of Novi Sad, Clinical Research, Hajduk Veljkova 3, Novi Sad, 21000, Serbia. Tel.: +381 642225282; E-mail: stefan.kostadinovic@gmail.com.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Exercise programs in the treatment of chronic lumbar pain are quite diverse, but it has been proven that stabilization exercises are the most effective. OBJECTIVE: We compared the lumbar stabilization exercise program in a closed and open kinetic chain (LSCO) and lumbar stabilization exercises and thoracic mobilization program in a closed kinetic chain (LSTMC), and evaluated the clinical effectiveness of each program. METHODS: Prospective, randomized, controlled trial in 80 chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients with lumbar radiculopathy of both sexes (35 male, 45 female), average age (48.45 ± 10.22 years), divided in two groups that performed different sets of exercises. Participants were given laser therapy, transcutaneous electro-nerve stimulation and an eight-week kinesiotherapy that included exercises to strengthen the deep lumbar spine stabilizers. Retesting was done after four and eight weeks. RESULTS: Statistically significant (p< 0.05) superior recovery of the LSTMC group subjects compared to the LSCO group was achieved at all measurement intervals in the pain intensity and functional disability parameters. CONCLUSION: Patients who performed the lumbar stabilization and thoracic mobilization exercise program in a closed kinetic chain had the most effective reduction of pain intensity and functional disability.
