Effect of Stabilization Exercise on Lumbar Multifidus Muscle Thickness in Patients with Non-specific Chronic Low Back Pain

Objectives: In a single blinded randomized controlled study, we investigated the effect of stabilization exercise on lumbar multifidus muscle thickness in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain. Low Back Pain is highly prevalent and results in considerable level of disability. Many causes have been associated with weakness or injury of the soft tissues in the lumbar area. Methods: A total of 122 individuals (44 males, 78 females) with non-specific chronic low back pain participated in this study. They were assigned to four different groups. Group 1 received stabilization exercise only. In addition to stabilization exercise, groups 2 and 3 received Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and massage therapy respectively and group 4 was the control group who received drug therapy only. Participants went through this protocol twice weekly for 8 consecutive weeks. Measurement of muscle thickness using Ultrasound scanning machine was done at baseline and end of 8th week. Analysis of variance was used to determine significant difference at P<0.05. Results: There was an increase in the Lumbar Multifidus muscle thickness at L4-L5 lumbar vertebra post-intervention assessment with more increment in group 2 with a mean and standard deviation of 3.28&plusmn;0.47, within the three groups except the control. Discussion: The study established that stabilization exercise alone and in combination with Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and massage is effective in increasing the thickness of Lumbar Multifidus muscle in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain.