الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract This study was designed to compare the effect of Russian current with lowfrequency pulsed current on multifidus muscle activation, lumbar lordosis, pain intensity level and patient-reported perceived difficulty level during lumbopelvic motor control tests (prone hip extension and active straight leg raise) in young females with chronic nonspecific low back pain. Methods: sixty young females (aged 18–32 years) with chronic non- specific low back pain were randomly allocated to the Russian current (n = 20), low frequency pulsed current (n = 20), and control (n = 20) groups. Each group received lumbar stabilization exercises. The study participants received 12 treatment sessions over 6 weeks (2 days per week). Multifidus activation, lumbar lordosis and pain intensity level were measured using a pressure biofeedback unit, plastic flexicurve and the numerical pain rating scale respectively.The patient-reported perceived difficulty level during prone hip extension and active straight leg raising tests was measured using likert scale (5 point scale). All outcomes measured at two time intervals (pre-treatment and post treatment). Results: Between group analysis revealed a significant increase (p ˂ 0.05) in multifidus activation in the Russian current group compared with the control group posttreatment. No significant differences were observed between the low frequency pulsed current and both Russian current and control groups (p ˃ 0.05). The mean difference in lumbar lordosis angle was not statistically significant among the study groups (P=.27). Pain intensity level significantly decreased (p ˂ 0.05) in both the low frequency pulsed current and Russian current group compared with the control group. However, no significant (p ˃ 0.05) difference was observed between the low frequency pulsed current and Russian current groups. Participant-reported perceived difficulty level during prone hip extension test revealed statistical significant differences between the control group and both the Russian current (P=.009) and low frequency pulsed current (P=.042) group post intervention. Regarding the active straight leg raising test, there was a statistical significance difference in participant-reported perceived difficulty level between the Russian current and control groups (P=.023). However, there was non-significant difference between low frequency pulsed current and both Russian current (P=.66) and control group (P=.45). Conclusion: This study reveals that the effect of the electrical currents is comparable in increasing multifidus activation, changing in lumbar lordosis angle, decreasing pain intensity level and improving motor control impairments in young females with chronic non- specific low back pain. Furthermore, Russian current is more effective than lumbar stabilization exercise alone in improving multifidus activation. |