Effect of selected physical exercises on low back pain

Abstract

Background: Men and women are equally affected by low back pain (LBP), which can range in intensity from a dull, constant ache to a sudden, sharp sensation that hinders the person. Pain can begin abruptly due to an accident or by lifting something heavy, or it can develop over time due to age-related changes in the spine. LBP is one of the primary healthcare problems in all developing countries; nurses play a vital role in giving different interventions to treat back pain effectively. This study aims to study the effect of selected physical exercise on LBP among patients attending the outpatient department (OPD) in selected hospitals. Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental, one-group pretest–posttest time series research design was used to conduct a study among the patients attending OPD in selected hospitals. A total of 160 respondents were studied from October 2021 to February 2022. A numerical pain scale and a semistructured self-administered questionnaire were used to collect data. Only respondents who gave informed consent were issued the questionnaire to complete at their convenience. Physical exercises were demonstrated and done by patients for 6 weeks, thrice a day in a week for 30 min regularly. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24.0. Descriptive data were presented in the form of bar graphs and frequency tables. Results: The study showed that 59.37% of the respondents had severe LBP in the pretest. After doing selected physical exercises, the severe pain level reduced to 56.25% in post-test-1, 32.5% in post-test-2, and 14.37% in post-test-3. The t value of the difference in mean reduction of LBP was tabulated, and the calculated t values were (0.78, 5.60, 9.64) statistically significant at 0.05 level of significance (P < 0.05). Conclusion: LBP is seen as an issue for all ages and all sectors of society. One common component of pain treatment programs focuses on increased physical exercise reconditioning, and exercise would increase strength and concomitantly decrease pain as a long-term effect. The investigator found that physical activities were very effective and beneficial in reducing back pain among patients with LBP.

Keywords

• low back pain
• patients attending opd
• physical exercises