Article

The aim of the study was to compare the effects of mechanical lumbar
traction either in the supine or in the prone position with conventional physical
therapy (PT) in patients with chronic low back pain and lumbosacral nerve root
involvement in terms of disability, pain, and mobility.
DESIGN: Participants (N =
125) were randomly assigned to receive 15 sessions of PT with additional
mechanical lumbar traction either in the supine position (supine traction group)
or in the prone position (prone traction group) or only PT without traction (PT
only group). Patients were assessed at baseline and at the end of the PT sessions
in terms of disability, pain, and mobility. Disability was assessed using the
modified Oswesty Disability Index; pain was assessed using a visual analog scale,
and lumbar mobility was assessed using the modified lumbar Schober test. RESULTS:
One hundred eighteen patients completed the trial. All groups improved
significantly in the Oswesty Disability Index, visual analog scale, and modified
lumbar Schober test (P < 0.05). In the between-group analysis, improvements of
Oswesty Disability Index and visual analog scale were found significantly better
in the prone traction group compared with the PT only group (adjusted P = 0.031
and 0.006, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Addition of traction in the prone position
to other modalities resulted in larger immediate improvements in terms of pain
and disability, and the results suggest that when using traction, prone traction
might be first choice.
Further research is needed to confirm the benefits of
lumbar traction in the prone position.

Langue : ANGLAIS