Effects of an Intervention Program on Lumber Muscle Function in Non-Specific Chronic Low Back Pain

Abstract

PURPOSE This study compared the effects of different intervention programs of resistance exercise, stretching, and physical therapy in middle-aged women with nonspecific chronic low back pain. METHODS The study participants were middle-aged women with nonspecific chronic low back pain (n=31), divided into three groups: resistance exercise (n=11), stretching (n=10) and physical therapy (n=10). They performed regular intervention thrice weekly for 12 weeks. Parameters measured include body composition via impedance, lumbar extensor strength, and lumbar stabilizing muscle strength. RESULTS There was a significant interaction between group (resistance exercise, stretching, and physical therapy) and time period (pre– post) at 24°, 36°, 48°, 60°, and 72° of lumbar extensor strength (p=.015, p=.040, p=.004, p=.009, p=.003, respectively), and a significant interaction between group and time at -135° (p=.022) and +180° (p=.013) for lumbar stabilizing muscle strength. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated that resistance training had a positive effect on chronic low back pain after 12 weeks of intervention in middle-aged women with nonspecific chronic low back pain, with improvements in lumbar extensor and stabilizer strength.

Keywords

• chronic low back pain
• lumber muscle function
• extensor
• stabilization
• resistance