Back Exercise Program with Lumbar Extension Resisting Exercise in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain

Lee, Kang Woo; Kwon, Jeong Yi; Kim, Hyeon Sook; Lee, Byung Sub; Kang, Jey Young; Park, Won Hah

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of 8-week back exercise program with lumbar extension resisting exercise on pain and lumbar extension strength in the patients with chronic low back pain. METHOD: Twenty-nine subjects with chronic low back pain without sciatica trained 2 days per week for 8 weeks. Back exercise program consisted of 20 to 30 minutes aerobic exercise, back exercise (for flexibility, strengthening, and cooperation) and one set of lumbar extension resisting exercise. Before and after the 8 week training period, subjects completed a maximum isometric lumbar extension strength test at seven angles through a 72degrees range of motion (0, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72 degrees of lumbar flexion). Pain intensity was assessed by visual analog scale.
RESULTS
Patients showed a decrease in visual analog scale from 4.5+/-2.0 to 1.9+/-1.7 (p<0.05). Significant improvement of isometric lumbar extension strength was noticed at all angles (p<0.05). Relative percent change of isometric lumbar extension strength (% strength gain/pretraining strength) of 0degrees of lumbar flexion was greater than those of any other angles. Training effect noted in extended position was greater than that for flexion.
CONCLUSION
Eight-week back exercise program with lumbar extension resisting exercise decreased pain and increased lumbar extension strength in the patients with chronic low back pain. The greatest strength gain after training was shown in fully extended position (0degrees of lumbar flexion).