Background & Aims

Back pain and associated disabilities are increasing in Africa and its burden is greater in countries with longer life expectancies. The study examined the effects of vertical oscillatory pressure (VOP) and sustained natural apophyseal glides (SNAGs) on pain biomarker, clinical and psychosocial variables in patients with low back pain .

Methods

This quasi-experimental study involved fourty-nine consenting patients with mechanical LBP purposively recruited from the Physiotherapy Outpatient Clinic of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile Ife, Nigeria. Participants were randomly allocated to VOP or SNAGs group. Participants in VOP group received vertical oscillatory pressure, twice weekly for six weeks, while participants in SNAGs group received sustained natural apophyseal glides, each session twice in a week for six weeks. Visual analogue scale, Oswestry disability questionnaire, quality of life questionnaire (SF12) and pain biomarkers (IL6 and Substance P) were used to assess the Pain intensity (PI), disability (Dis), quality of life (HRQoL) interleukin 6 (IL6) and substance P (SP) at baseline, 3rd, and 6th weeks of treatment respectively. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics of repeated measure ANOVA was used to compare within group effects and one-way ANOVA was used to compare betwee

Results

The results showed that at 6th week and p=0.001, VOP led to significant decrease in IL6 SP, Dis and HRQoL. Also, at 6th week and p=0.001, SNAGs led to significant difference in IL6, SP ,Dis and HRQoL. Between group analysis and at p= 0.001 considering the 6th week , VOP decreases IL6, Dis and HRQoL better that SNAGs, while SNAGs, significantly reduces SP more than VOP.

Conclusions

This study concluded that VOP and SNAGs are effective in the management of patients with mechanical LBP, however, VOP reduces IL6, Disability and HRQoL better than SNAGS, but SNAGS reduces SP better than VOP.

References

Olaogun, M. O., Adedoyin, R. A., Ikem, I. C., &Anifaloba, O. R. (2004). Reliability of rating low back pain with a visual analogue scale and a semantic differential scale. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 20(2), 135-142.
Paungmali, A., O’Leary, S., Souvlis, T., & Vicenzino, B. (2004). Naloxone fails to antagonize initial hypoalgesic effect of a manual therapy treatment for lateral epicondylalgia. Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics, 27(3), 180-185.
Paungmali, A., O’Leary, S., Souvlis, T., & Vicenzino, B. (2003). Hypoalgesic and sympathoexcitatory effects of mobilization with movement for lateral epicondylalgia. Physical therapy, 83(4), 374-383.
Petty, N. J., & Rushton, A. (2004). Principles of joint treatment. Principles of Neuromusculoskeletal Treatment and Management: a guide for therapists, 116-118.
Pfirrmann, C. W., Metzdorf, A., Zanetti, M., Hodler, J., & Boos, N. (2001). Magnetic resonance classification of lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration. Spine, 26(17), 1873-1878.

Presenting Author

Ojoawo Adesola Ojo

Poster Authors

Adesola Ojo Ojoawo

PhD

Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria

Lead Author

E-mail

Topics

  • Models: Musculoskeletal