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Sequentially allocated clinical trial of rhythmic stabilization exercises and TENS in women with chronic low back pain

Laboratory of Neuromuscular Control and Therapeutic Exercise, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science at Serres, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, kof-nik{at}otenet.gr

Symeon P. Vlachopoulos

Laboratory of Social Research on Physical Activity Department of Physical Education and Sport Science at Serres, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

Eleftherios Kellis

Laboratory of Neuromuscular Control and Therapeutic Exercise, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science at Serres, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

Objective: To examine the effectiveness of rhythmic stabilization exercises and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and their combination in treating women with chronic low back pain.

Design: Sequentially allocated, single-blinded and controlled study, with a two-month follow-up.

Setting: The data were collected in a patient rehabilitation setting.

Subjects: A total of 92 women (34—46 years old) with chronic low back pain were studied.

Interventions: Sequential allocation was undertaken into four groups: `rhythmic stabilization' (n=23), `rhythmic stabilization — TENS' (n=23), TENS (n=23), and a placebo group (n = 23). Each programme lasted for four weeks. All outcome measures were assessed prior to, immediately after, four weeks and eight weeks post intervention.

Main measures: Data were obtained on functional disability, pain intensity, trunk extension range of motion, dynamic endurance of trunk flexion and static endurance of trunk extension.

Results: A total of 88 patients provided two-month follow-up data. The `rhythmic stabilization' and the `rhythmic stabilization — TENS' groups displayed statistically significant (P<0.05) improvements in functional disability and pain intensity (ranging from 21.2 to 42.8%), trunk extension range of motion (ranging from 6.5 to 25.5%), dynamic endurance of trunk flexion and static endurance of trunk extension (ranging from 13.5 to 74.3%) compared with the remaining groups.

Conclusions: The rhythmic stabilization programmes resulted in more gains in women with chronic low back pain regarding the present outcome variables compared with the other groups; therefore, its application in female chronic low back pain patients aged 34—46 years is recommended.

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