Effect of biomechanical awareness and core stability exercises on mechanical low back pain among Egyptian Physiotherapists

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Basic science department faculty of physical therapy Cairo university Egypt

2 Professor of Physical Therapy, Basic Science Department, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Egypt

3 Lecturer of Physical Therapy, Basic Science Department, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Egypt

Abstract

Background: mechanical low back pain is common injury experienced by physiotherapists 
thus they require a good mechanical awareness about their position while working to avoid 
stress on low back area. Purpose: to investigate the impact of core stability exercises and 
biomechanical awareness on the intensity of low back pain, back muscle endurance, 
function and fatigue among Egyptian physiotherapists with mechanical low back pain.
Methods: fifty-two of both genders' Egyptian physiotherapists with mechanical low back 
pain, participated in the study, their age ranged from25 to 40 years old. they were assigned 
randomly into two groups. group A:26 physiotherapists received biomechanical 
awareness advices while working and core stability exercises for 4 weeks. group B:26
physiotherapists received core stability exercises only for 4 weeks.. outcome measures 
included: the intensity of back pain was measured by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), back 
muscle endurance (BME) was measured by Biering-Sorenson test, the level of function 
(disability) was measured by the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and fatigue was 
measured by Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). Results: there was a significant improvement 
in all variables in the two groups (p=0.001) and there was statistically significant 
difference post-treatment between both groups in favor to group A (p= 0.001).
Conclusion: biomechanical awareness advices while working with core stability 
exercises is effective more than core stability exercises alone in improving pain intensity, 
back muscle endurance, fatigue and function in physiotherapist with mechanical low back 
pain

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