Comparative study of muscle energy technique, craniosacral therapy, and sensorimotor training effects on postural control in patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain

Cobra Ghasemi, Ali Amiri, Javad Sarrafzadeh, Mehdi Dadgoo, Hasan Jafari, Cobra Ghasemi, Ali Amiri, Javad Sarrafzadeh, Mehdi Dadgoo, Hasan Jafari

Abstract

Background: Malalignment in the pelvic and spinal column disturbs the balance and decreases the postural control ability. Malalignment is known as one of the main causes of back pain particularly the nonspecific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP). The aim of the study is to compare the effect of muscle energy technique (MET), craniosacral therapy (CST), and sensorimotor training (SMT) on postural control in patients with NSCLBP.

Materials and methods: In this randomized clinical trial study, 45 NSCLBP patients were accidentally allocated in three groups including CST (n = 15), MET (n = 15), and SMT (n = 15). Clinical interventions including CST, MET, and SMT were performed in 10 sessions in 5 weeks (2 sessions per week). The parameters of center of pressure (COP) were assessed in 8 positions such as standing position on double or single leg with open or closed eyes or half squat position on double or single leg with open or closed eyes.

Results: The results of this study showed that all three methods of CST, MET, and SMT are effective in postural control in patients with NSCLBP, although it seems that CST is effective on more balance factors. CST has a greater effect on balance in standing position on a single leg with closed eye. It was also found that the effect of CST was continuous after follow-up.

Conclusion: Moreover, MET and SMT methods were effective in balance control in NSCLBP patients and postural control was more affected by CST.

Keywords: Craniosacral therapy; muscle energy technique; postural control; sensorimotor training.

Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Copyright: © Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care.

References

    1. Schamberger W. Edinburgh London, New York: Oxford Philadelphia St Louis Sydney Toronto; 2013. The Malalignment Syndrome: Diagnosis and Treatment of Common Pelvic and Back Pain. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier.
    1. Schamberger W. The Malalignment Syndrome: Implications for Medicine and Sport. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone; 2002.
    1. Balague F, Mannion AF, Pellise F, Cedraschi C. Non-specific low back pain. Lancet. 2012;379:482–91.
    1. Duray M, Şimşek Ş, Altuǧ F, Cavlak U. Effect of proprioceptive training on balance in patients with chronic neck pain. AĞRI-The Journal of The Turkish Society of Algology. 2018;30:130–7.
    1. Paolucci T, Fusco A, Iosa M, Grasso MR, Spadini E, Paolucci S, et al. The efficacy of a perceptive rehabilitation on postural control in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain. Int J Rehabil Res. 2012;35:360–6.
    1. Brumagne S, Cordo P, Verschueren S. Proprioceptive weighting changes in persons with low back pain and elderly persons during upright standing. Neurosci Lett. 2004;366:63–6.
    1. Cholewicki J, Polzhofer G, Radebold A. Postural control of trunk during unstable sitting. J Biomech. 2000;33:1733–7.
    1. Clark BC, Russ DW, Nakazawa M, France CR, Walkowski S, Law TD, et al. 2018. A randomized control trial to determine the effectiveness and physiological effects of spinal manipulation and spinal mobilization compared to each other and a sham condition in patients with chronic low back pain; pp. 41–52.
    1. Upledger JE. Craniosacral therapy: Touchstone for natural healing: North Atlantic Books. 2001
    1. Salavati M, Mazaheri M, Negahban H, Ebrahimi I, Jafari AH, Kazemnejad A, et al. Effect of dual-tasking on postural control in subjects with nonspecific low back pain. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2009;34:1415–21.
    1. Salavati M, Hadian MR, Mazaheri M, Negahban H, Ebrahimi I, Talebian S, et al. Test-retest reliability [corrected] of center of pressure measures of postural stability during quiet standing in a group with musculoskeletal disorders consisting of low back pain, anterior cruciate ligament injury and functional ankle instability. Gait Posture. 2009;29:460–4.
    1. Moghadam M, Ashayeri H, Salavati M, Sarafzadeh J, Taghipoor KD, Saeedi A, et al. Reliability of center of pressure measures of postural stability in healthy older adults: Effects of postural task difficulty and cognitive load. Gait Posture. 2011;33:651–5.
    1. Mazaheri M, Salavati M, Negahban H, Parnianpour M. Test-retest reliability of postural stability measures during quiet standing in patients with a history of nonspecific low back pain. Biomed Eng. 2010;22:255–62.
    1. Upledger J, Vredevoogd J. Craniosacral Therapy. Seattle, WA: Eastland Press; 1996. The Spinal Dura Matter and Sacrococcygeal Complex; pp. 131–51.
    1. Donatelli RA, Wooden MJ. Orthopaedic Physical Therapy. 4th ed. Churchil Livingstone: Elsevier; 2010.
    1. Page P. Sensorimotor training: A “global” approach for balance training. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2006;10:77–84.
    1. McPartland JM, Brodeur RR. Rectus capitis posterior minor: A small but important suboccipital muscle. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 1999;3:30–5.
    1. Rojhani SZ, Satian NF, Hemati L. Comparison of speed of walking, balance and proprioception of knee and ankle joints between diabetic and healthy subjects. J Gorgan Univ Med Sci. 2012:14.
    1. Vaugoyeau M, Viel S, Amblard B, Azulay JP, Assaiante C. Proprioceptive contribution of postural control as assessed from very slow oscillations of the support in healthy humans. Gait Posture. 2008;27:294–302.
    1. Ergen E, Ulkar B. Proprioception and ankle injuries in soccer. Clin Sports Med. 2008;27:195–217. x.
    1. Jakel A, von Hauenschild P. A systematic review to evaluate the clinical benefits of craniosacral therapy. Complement Ther Med. 2012;20:456–65.
    1. Rivera F. Reconnecting the Mind and Body: Using Bodywork to Help Improve Mental Health. Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertation and Projects. 2016. p. 326. Available from: .
    1. Gillespie BR. Case study in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: The corrective aspect of craniosacral fascial therapy. Explore (NY) 2009;5:296–8.
    1. Schleip R, Findley TW, Chaitow L, Huijing PA. Edinburgh London, New York: Oxford Philadelphia St Louis Sydney Toronto; 2012. Book Review of Fascia: The Tensional Network of the Human Body; Churchill Livingstone Elsevier.
    1. Schleip R. Fascial plasticity – A new neurobiological explanation: Part 1. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2003:11–9.
    1. Pishyareh E, Ebrahimi E, Hosseini SA, Kazem-Nejad A, Ramin M. The impact of cranios acral therapy on inhibition of hypertonicity of the lower limb in children with dipelgia spastic cerebral palsy of 3-8 years old. Arch Rehabil. 2001;1:7–11.
    1. Upledger J, Wanveer T. Helping the Brain Drain: How CranioSacral Therapy Aids ADD/ADHD. Massage Today; 2007.

Source: PubMed

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

3
Subscribe