A study to determine the effect of back strengthening exercises in reducing low back pain among patients attending Sree Mookambika Medical College Hospital at Kanyakumari District

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The study was undertaken to determine the effect of back strengthening exercises in reducing low back pain among patients attending Sree Mookambika Medical College Hospital at Kulasekharam in Kanyakumari district. OBJECTIVES: 1. To determine the effect of back strengthening exercises in reducing low back pain among patients in experimental and control group. 2. To find out the association between the level of pain with selected demographic variables such as age, gender, education, occupation and body built. HYPOTHESES: H1 – There is a significant reduction in the mean pain score of patients in experimental group than in control group. H2 – There is a significant association between the level of pain and selected demographic variables. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: The researcher adopted a quantitative approach with two group pretest post test design. Patients attending Sree Mookambika Medical College who were diagnosed as low back pain were selected. Pre test assessment was done with Aberdeen low back pain scale and 60 patients with mild to moderate level of pain were selected and 30 samples were allotted in experimental group and 30 in control group. Back strengthening exercises was given to the experimental group. Post test was conducted to the experimental and control group on the 15th day. The collected data were analyzed based on the above mentioned objectives using the descriptive and inferential statistics. STUDY FINDINGS: The pretest of experimental and control group revealed that there was no significant difference. Both experimental and control group were similar in respect of demographic variables and thus it was observed that they were identical. The study identified that the level of low back pain was reduced in experimental group. It was found that there was a significant reduction in the level of back pain of experimental group after back strengthening exercises than in the control group. The ‘t’ value of difference of mean reduction of low back pain tabulated was found to be t = 6.11* , df = 58 , P< 0.05 In the study it was found that there was no association between the level of low back pain of experimental and control group with their selected demographic variables such as age, sex, education, occupation and body built. CONCLUSION: Low back pain is seen as an issue for all ages, and all sectors of society. One common component of pain treatment programs is a focus on increased physical activities and exercise reconditioning. Exercises would increase strength and concomitantly decrease pain as a long term effect. The investigator found that back strengthening exercises was very much effective and beneficial in reducing the level of back pain among patients with low back pain