Assessing the Level of Pain Reduction and Excessive Soft Tissue Tension in Patients with Selected Lumbosacral Spine Conditions Using a Prototype Fascial Therapy Tool

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of the study was to assess the level of maximizing treatment effects by reducing pain symptoms and excessive tissue tension as the main pathogenic stimuli, and to minimize the potential adverse consequences of treating selected lumbosacral spine conditions. Materials and Methods: The study material consisted of the results of questionnaires administered to patients of both sexes, aged 20-80 years, evaluated at the beginning and end of a standard 10-day rehabilitation camp. During it, an experimental method of fascial therapy using the prototype M-Stick tool was applied and compared with a control group whose treatment did not involve the tool. The study used, among other things, palpation of subjective soft tissue tension levels and pain levels according to the VAS scale. Results: After the 10-day therapy, more than 90% of patients achieved a reduction in soft tissue tension compared to the initial state, while pain levels measured according to VAS decreased from a mean of 6.5 to 3.3. In approximately 50% of the patients, the therapy resulted in moderate tissue bruising. Conclusions: Fascial therapy using the specialized M-Stick tool achieves similar ef f i cacy to technically identical therapy without the support of the tool, in the context of reducing pain and tissue tension. Despite leaving moderate tissue bruising in nearly 50% of patients, it is considered an acceptable therapy for treating selected lumbosacral spine conditions.