Affiliations: [a] SVNIRTAR, Olatpur, P.O. Bairoi, Cuttack Dt., Orissa, India | [b] Advanced Certificate Course in Manual Physical Therapy, JSPL, Raigarh, Chattisgarh, India | [c] Nopany Institute of Health Sciences, Girish Park, Kolkata, India
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: G. Shankar Ganesh, Department of Physiotherapy, SVNIRTAR, Olatpur, P.O. Bairoi, Cuttack Dt., Orissa, 754010, India. Tel.: +91 9437279869; E-mail:shankarpt@rediffmail.com
Abstract:
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Though core muscles strengthening using upper
limbs in various positions and lower limbs in lying have been studied
previously in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP), no study has
specifically looked in to the effects of a training program that requires
prior motor planning in standing (functional position). The objective of
this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of star excursion
balance test (SEBT) grid training in improving the outcomes in patients with
CLBP. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Sixty patients with mechanical CLBP who fulfilled our
criteria were randomized in to two groups; experimental group received
physical diagnostic specific interventions, core muscles strengthening and
muscles training using the SEBT grid. The participants in control group
received stationary cycling instead of SEBT grid training and the other
interventions were uniform. The duration of study was 4 weeks. The dependent
variables were analyzed using repeated measures 2 × 3 ANOVA. RESULTS: At the end of study, both the groups showed a significant reduction in
disability and improvement in strength and endurance (p< 0.05). Post-hoc
analysis showed that SEBT grid training was better than conventional
exercises. Follow-up at 16 weeks revealed a statistically insignificant loss
in strength and endurance in control group patients. This reduction was not
associated with an increase in disability score. The experimental group
patients continued showing improvement. CONCLUSION: The results of our study show that core muscles strengthening using a SEBT
grid are more effective than conventional programs. We hypothesize SEBT
training to have a significant role in skill learning. We recommend SEBT
grid training to be incorporated in the treatment planning of persons with
CLBP.
Keywords: Low back pain, exercise, muscle strength, musculoskeletal manipulations, motor skills
