The Effect of Vertical Oscillatory Pressure (VOP) on Youths and Elderly Adult Low Back Pain (LBP) Intensity and Lumbo-Sacral Mobility.

The effect of Vertical Oscillatory Pressure (VOP) on Low Back Pain (LBP) intensity and lumbo-sacral mobility in youths compared to elders was examined. Eighty five male (56) and female (29) subjects comprising 45 youths (18-28 years old) and 42 elders (65-75 years old), including LBP (40) and pain-free individuals participated in the study. Subjects with LBP received VOP on each vertebra from the first lumbar to the sacrum, 10 oscillations in one minute repeated at each vertebra. Pain intensity (measured using Borg's 10 point scale) and mobility were measured at the start, after VOP and five minutes after cryotherapy. Control subjects did not receive VOP and cryotherapy but had their sensory perception and spinal mobility measured at the start, after 15 and 26 minutes respectively. Pain intensity decreased significantly [elders, p<0.01; youths, p<0.05] while the range of forward and side flexions increased significantly (p<0.05) only in elders after VOP. Cryotherapy after VOP therapy did not add any significant effect on pain intensity and trunk mobility. Mobility and perceptual levels of the control subjects did not alter significantly. Pain intensity and flexion (forward and side flexions in elders only) are improved by VOP and should be preferred spinal mobilization therapy outcome measures in youths and elders with LBP respectively.