Pelvic floor muscle exercise for chronic low back pain
Xia Bi, Jiangxia Zhao, Lei Zhao, Zhihao Liu, Jinming Zhang, Dan Sun, Lei Song, Yun Xia, Xia Bi, Jiangxia Zhao, Lei Zhao, Zhihao Liu, Jinming Zhang, Dan Sun, Lei Song, Yun Xia
Abstract
Objective: To assess the effect of pelvic floor muscle exercise in patients with chronic low back pain.
Methods: Adults (aged ≥ 18 years) with chronic low back pain (with or without radiculopathy) were randomized to undergo either routine treatment (ultrasonography, short wave diathermy and lumbar strengthening exercises; control group) or routine treatment with pelvic floor exercises (intervention group) for 24 weeks. Pain, disability (Oswestry Disability Index [ODI] score) and trunk muscle function were assessed at baseline and after completion of treatment.
Results: The study included 47 patients (control group n = 24; intervention group n = 23). Pain severity and ODI scores were significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group after 24 weeks. There were no significant between-group differences in trunk muscle function.
Conclusion: Pelvic floor exercise in combination with routine treatment provides significant benefits in terms of pain relief and disability over routine treatment alone.
Source: PubMed