Comparison of the impact of two physiotherapeutic methods on pain and disability in patients with non-specific low back pain : a controlled clinical pilot study

Background. Lower back pain (LBP) is a serious public health problem which is widespread, particularly in developed countries.

Objectives. The aim of this study was to compare the impact of two physical therapy approaches, i.e., Acral Coactivation Therapy (ACT) and conventional therapy, in terms of intensity of pain and disability in patients with non-specific LBP.

Material and methods. Thirty patients in subacute or chronic stages of LBP were involved in this single-blind pilot study. The experimental group consisted of 15 patients (age: 39.3 ± 6.3; BMI: 27.1 ± 5.2) who worked out according to ACT. The control group included 15 patients (age: 45.3 ± 7.1; BMI: 27.8 ± 5.8) who followed conventional therapy. The patients in both groups completed 10 therapy sessions. The Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) was used to assess any change in pain between the first and last therapy sessions, and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was applied to assess current pain before and after each therapy session. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) was used to assess the effect on disability.

Results. The patients who followed ACT showed a larger decrease in the scores of almost all criteria of pain assessment on the SF-MPQ (p < 0.05), a larger decrease in current pain evaluation according to the VAS within individual therapy sessions (p < 0.05), and a larger decrease in disability score in the ODI (p < 0.05) in comparison with the control group.

Conclusions. ACT is an efficient therapy for pain reduction, both immediately after a workout and long-term.