Effectiveness of Mckenzie Exercises and Mat Based Pilates Exercises in Subjects with Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain: A Comparative Study

Study design: A single blinded, randomized control trial, pretest-posttest design, with 6 week treatment programme. Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of Mckenzie exercises to that of a mat based Pilates exercise in improving the pain, functional disability and trunk ROM associated with CNLBP (Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain). Background: Therapeutic approaches developed by Mckenzie and Pilates are becoming popular; however, there have been no reports on their difference effectiveness. Methods and measure: Thirty physically active subjects between 20 and 65 years old with CNLBP were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups. McKenzie exercise group (MEG) received McKenzie exercises for 6 weeks based on the assessment; while the Mat based pilates exercise (MBPE) group received Pilates exercise for the same 6 weeks duration. The outcome measures of pain are measured by the numeric pain rating scale (NPRS), functional disability is measured using a Rolland Morris disability questionnaire (RMDQ) and the trunk ROM is measured using modified Schobers method. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze the data. The results: No statistical difference existed on posttest comparisons were made on outcome data between groups on pain (p<0.23), disability (p<0.62), trunk flexion (p<0.75) and trunk extension (p<0.27), While both the groups show improvements for all the measures that were assessed individually and they were significant (p<0.01). Conclusion: The results may help physiotherapists in clinical decision-making. Between group comparisons of changes in the dependent variable scores revealed no statistical differences between the groups.