Effect of Superficial Back Line Relaxation Technique on Hamstring Flexibility in Non Specific Low Back Pain Patients

November 19, 2024 updated by: Riphah International University

Current study aim to evaluate the effect of Superficial back line relaxation techniques (SMIT along with CCFE) In Non Specific Low back Pain Patients in order to improve pain and hamstring flexibility.

And To find out the association between sub occipital muscle inhibition technique (SMIT) and cranial cervical flexion exercise (CCFE) in nonspecific low back pain patients with hamstring tightness.

The study aims to enhance the functional status and posture of patients suffering from nonspecific low back pain due to hamstring tightness, thereby enhancing patient efficiency in performing ADLS and IADLS.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

According to recent studies, hamstring tightness gets better as a result of sub occipital muscle inhibition technique, and cranial cervical flexion exercise that improve hamstring flexibility. SMIT is an approach of releasing fascia by application of pressure on sub occipital area. The myofascia relaxes as tone of suboccipital muscle declines that results in reduction in hamstring tone effectively.This is so because the superficial back line of dura matter connects hamstring with sub occipital muscles and neurological system runs through it. In SMIT superficial back line relaxes. While this approach helps suboccipital muscles release degree tension between occiput and axis.

The premise behind CCFE is that cervical spine's dura matter and suboccipital muscle fascia are connected by soft tissue while superficial back line of myofascial chain connects the neck to lower extremity. If tone of suboccipital muscle is reduced,the tone of knee flexors gets minimize and degree of hip flexion gets increase that results in increasing hamstring flexibility. Previous study showed that CCFE restores hamstring flexibility by relaxing superficial back line. While SMI and CCFE represents passive and active exercise program, respectively are equally effective in immediate enhancement of hamstring flexibility.

This study divide in to two groups. Group A ( experimental group) and Group B ( control group). Group A will receive manual technique superficial back line relaxation technique includes (Suboccpital muscle inhibition along with cranial cervical flexion Exercise) with conventional therapy.While group B will receive only conventional therapy include hot pack (lumber region) with low back exercises such as stretching exercise (knee to chest, Pelvis bridging, Cat and camel stretch).

Current study aims to pin point combine effect of SMIT along with CCFE in people with hamstring tightness. Additionally this study will evaluate the immediate and long term effect of SMIT and CCFE on patients with non- specific low back pain by comparing direct and indirect approaches for hamstring flexibility. The study aims to enhance the functional status and posture of patients suffering from nonspecific low back pain due to hamstring tightness, thereby enhancing patient efficiency in performing ADLS and IADLS.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

44

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • Punjab
      • Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan, 46000
        • Railway General Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with chronic low back pain associate with hamstring tightness.
  • Unilateral or bilateral short hamstring syndrome
  • 3 to 6 points in numeric pain rating scale(NPRS).
  • Active knee extension more than 20°.
  • Presence of hamstring tightness with Popliteal angle more than 30 degree.
  • Angle in SLR test should be less than 80°

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of cervical spine surgery and neck trauma.
  • Cervical and lumber spinal deformity, Herniated disc or protrusions, Spinal stenosis.
  • Muscle tendon injuries of the hamstring.
  • History of vascular disease in head and neck.
  • Visual swelling in the region of hamstring muscle.
  • Progressive neurological deficit.
  • Fractures in cervical and lumber spine.
  • Past and current history of vertigo and dizziness.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: superficial back line relaxation
suboccipital muscle inhibition, cranial cervical flexion exercise
Experimental group was given superficial back line relaxation includes SMIT & CCFE along with conventional therapy includes lower limb muscle stretching. SMIT For short term effect 10-12 repetitions per session, on daily basis for 1st week. For long term effect 10-12 repetitions per session, for 3 alternate days in remaining 2nd&3rd week. CCFE For short term effect 3 sets of 10 reps , 10 sec hold , 1 min rest after each set, on daily basis for 1st week. For long term effect 3 sets of 10 reps, 10 sec hold , 1 min rest after each set, for 3 alternate days , remaining 2nd & 3rd week. Conventional therapy lower limb muscle stretching ( For short term effect 30 seconds hold , 3 sets of 5 repetitions , 1 min rest after each set, per session on daily basis for 1st week , for long term effect on alternate 3 days in remaining 2nd ,3rd week). Total 12 sessions were given (3 weeks).
Active Comparator: Conventional physical therapy
hot packs, muscle stretching exercise of lowerlimb ( Pelvic bridging, knee to chest, Cat and camel stretch)

lower limb muscle stretching ( pelvic bridging, Knee to chest,cat and camel stretch) (30 seconds hold and 3 sets of 5 repetitions with 1 min rest interval in between each set, per session on daily basis for only one week for immediate results and for long term effect on alternate 3 days in remaining 2nd ,3rd week).

Treatment protocol will be given on daily basis to check immediate effect and for long term effect treatment will be given in alternating 3 days for remaining 2 weeks. Total 12 session were given (3 weeks).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Politeal angle ( Hip flexion with knee extension range)
Time Frame: 3rd week
Changes from baseline popliteal angle was taken with help of goniometer. The hamstring-popliteal angle measures hamstring flexibility by bending the hip and stretching the knee. It's passive and accurate, with a 98% reliability value. Adult popliteal angles typically fall between 80 and 90 degrees. If leg cannot reach this angle, stiffness may be present.
3rd week
Straight leg raise SLR (Hip flexion ROM)
Time Frame: 3rd week
Changes from baseline hip flexion ROM was taken with help of goniometer. Patient lies supine throughout the SLR test, and the assessor raises the subject's right leg. Patient should keep their leg straight during the evaluation. If the therapist senses resistance or the patient complains of pain, the therapist should halt and use goniometry to determine the angle of the lower leg and hip. The therapist need to be vigilance while measuring the angle to make sure the patient's ankle or pelvis does not rotate. This test's reliability for determining hamstring flexibility is 92%.
3rd week
Active knee extension test
Time Frame: 3rd week
Changes from baseline knee extension range was taken with help of goniometer. This test was performed to assess the hamstring muscle's flexibility.The length of the hamstring muscles was determined by measuring the angle of knee extension in degrees. This test has a 99% reliability rate when used to measure hamstring flexibility
3rd week
Modified Sit and Reach test
Time Frame: 3rd week
Common test of flexibility that evaluates the hamstring and lower back muscles' flexibility is the sit and reach test.The greatest distance a person can extend forward while seated in a fixed position is measured, and this is used to evaluate the stability of the patient.The sit-and-reach test's reliability rate for hamstring flexibility is 96%.
3rd week

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Numeric pain rating scale(NPRS)
Time Frame: 3rd week
Changes from baseline NPRS is a one-dimensional assessment of adult pain severity, where participants rate their discomfort using a segmented numeric version (0-10 integers) of the VAS. NPRS has a 96% reliability rate and an 85% validity rate..
3rd week
Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)
Time Frame: 3rd week
(ODI) is a widely used tool for measuring low back pain, assessing impairment in daily activities. It uses a questionnaire with 10 multiple-choice questions.Each question contains six possible answers, ranging from 0 to 5, indicating a person's ability to perform specific tasks. ODI has a 96% reliability rate.
3rd week

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Sidra Ghais, Phd, Riphah International University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

March 1, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

June 1, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

June 1, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 6, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 6, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

May 9, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

November 22, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 19, 2024

Last Verified

November 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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