A Randomized Controlled Trial of Myofascial Release Therapy in Patients with Chronic Nonspecific Lower Back Pain

Abstract

Background Chronic non-specific low back pain (CNLBP) has become one of the common causes of limited activity, which seriously threatens the physical and mental health and quality of life of patients. According to certain studies, sensitivity and tension in the myofascial tissue play an important role in chronic pain disorders. By releasing fascial tension, myofascial release theropy (MFR) is primarily used to relieve pain; however, there is a lack of high-quality clinical evidence to support this application. Objective To investigates the effectiveness of MFR in CNLBP cases treated non-surgically. Methods From January to December 2022, 56 patients with CNLBP were recruited as study subjects by Chengdu Sports Institute Sports Hospital. The patients were then divided into two groups using a randomised number table. The MFR group received MFR intervention (lumbar-abdominal MFR intervention) and the patients in the control group (CG group) received pseudo-MFR intervention (pseudo-MFR intervention in the same area) for the duration of 4 weeks, once a week for 20 minutes each time. The following variables were measured: Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores, Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scores, Oswestry Dysfunction Index (ODI), lumbar joint mobility[including anterior lumbar flexion (ALF), posterior lumbar extension (LR) and lumbar spine rotation (LSR) on both sides], scores on the SAS, and changes in tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) . Results A total of 56 subjects were enrolled in this study. Of these, 8 cases were lost, 8 cases were automatically withdrawn and 40 cases -20 in the MFR group and 20 in the CG group eventually completed follow-up. There were no significant difference in VAS scores, ADL scores, ODI scores, ALF scores, SAS scores, SDS scores and TNF-α level between two groups before intervention (P>0.05). LR and LSR in MFR group were lower than those in CG group before intervention (P<0.05). After 4 weeks of intervention, VAS, ODI, SAS, SDS scores and TNF-α levels in MFR group were lower than those in CG group, ADL scores were higher than those in CG group, ALF, LR, LSR were higher than those in CG group (P<0.05). After 4 weeks of intervention, VAS, ODI, SAS, SDS scores and TNF-α levels in MFR group were lower than before intervention, ADL scores were higher than before intervention, ALF, LR, LSR were higher than before intervention (P<0.05) . Conclusion These results highlight the importance of MFR has been shown to have a better safety profile in patients with CNLBP, lowering the pain threshold, increasing lumbar joint mobility and improving negative psychological states such as anxiety and depression.

Keywords

• lumbago|chronic nonspecific lower back pain|myofascial release therapy|physical therapy|randomized controlled trial