Effects of Manual Lumbar and Prone Traction in Patients With Low Back Pain

Effects of Manual Lumbar and Prone Traction on Clinical Variables in Patients With Non-specific Low Back Pain: A Randomized Control Study

The study determined the effects of manual Lumbar traction and prone traction on some clinical variables of patients with long standing low back pain.

Traction therapy has been used in the management of low back pain (LBP) especially None Specific Low Back Pain. There are several recommendations on how lumbar traction should be performed, but the type of technique to be applied differs among the sources. Prone traction adapted from inversion therapy which is a form of gravitational traction has been reported to be effective in ameliorating disabilities of patients with low back pain as well reduce pain intensity. Manual lumbar traction is performed by the therapist, pulling at the patient's ankles and has been reported to be effective in relieving pain and reducing disability of patient with None Specific Low Back Pain (NSLBP). Documented evidences on the efficacy of traction in non-specific low back pain are still inconclusive. While manual lumbar traction seems more commonly used, probably owing to its positional advantage, its relative effectiveness compared with manual prone traction is still unknown, hence this study. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of manual lumbar traction and prone traction on pain intensity, disability, spinal range of motion and quality of life in patients with None Specific Low Back Pain.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Participants diagnosed with Non-Specific Low Back Pain of not less than 3 months duration who were referred by a physician.
• Participants between the ages of 40 years and older.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Low back pain patients with specific pathology, such as systemic inflammatory diseases, pregnancy, fractures of the spine, tumors, infections.
• Participants with pathology affecting the trunk or upper and lower extremities