Role of myofascial release therapy on pain and lumbar range of motion in mechanical back pain: An exploratory investigation of desk job workers

Abstract

Background: Low back pain is the most common cause of work related disability in persons aged less than 45 years. Workers who sit in front of the computer for more than 40 hours per week end up with low back pain. Bad positioning of the body parts in a single day doesn’t make poor postures, whereas adaptation of the incorrect posture for a longer duration results in weak muscles and postural problems. Abnormal posture results in pain, disability and muscle weakness. Most of the management of low back pain focuses on the rehabilitation of the pain and very few studies focus on work station corrections. Aim: This study aims to find out the effect of work station modification with Myofascial release therapy on pain and lumbar flexion range of motion in mechanical low back pain in desk job workers. Methods: Forty subjects were included using simple random sampling method, subjects were chosen following an inclusion and exclusion criteria. Group A, underwent myofascial release therapy, whereas group B underwent myofascial release therapy technique with work station modification. The outcome measures were pain and range of motion of lumbar spine, which measured using visual analogue scale and modified schober’s method. Student ‘t’ test was used to find out the difference between the groups. Results: This study showed that there was a significant difference between the group A & group B. Conclusion: The study concludes that the work station modification along with myofascial release therapy was very effective in improving range of motion, and reducing pain.