EFFECT OF MCKENZIE EXERCISES ON LOW BACK PAIN IN FEMALES

Abstract

Introduction: Most of the people experience an episode of LBP at some instance in their lifetime and the prevalence is higher in females than males. A variety of Physical therapy protocols for low back pain are practiced. In this study effectiveness of McKenzie exercises on women experiencing low back pain is investigate. Objectives: The objective of this study was to find out the effectiveness of McKenzie exercises on low back pain in females. Study design: It was a quasi experimental study Setting: Data was taken from Physiotherapy department of Jinnah Hospital Lahore and was compiled at Riphah International University Lahore Period: Study was completed in 5 months after approval of synopsis from July to November 2014. Material & Methods: This quasi experimental study was conducted at Physiotherapy department of Jinnah Hospital Lahore. 48 patients diagnosed with low back pain fulfilling inclusion criteria were taken. Informed consent was taken and then demographic information (like name, age, etc) was obtained. Patients were divided into two study groups. Group A were treated with McKenzie exercises and group B were not treated with McKenzie exercises. The baseline treatment for both the cases was heat therapy using hot pack. Results: Difference in the means of baseline and after treatment pain score of McKenzie and non McKenzie groups was 0.042 which was not statistically significant (P value=0.915). Activity score on PSFS was improved in both McKenzie and non McKenzie groups. But the difference in the means of activity score of two groups was not statistically significant at the 5% level of significance. (P value=0.162). Conclusion: McKenzie exercise for the treatment of low back pain in females does not make any appreciable improvement in symptoms like severity of pain when compared with heat therapy alone. McKenzie exercises improve the level of functional activities but it is not statistically significant.