Fatemeh Azadinia1, Ismail Ebrahimi Takamjani, Mojtaba Kamyab, Gitta Kalbassi, Javad Sarrafzadeh, Mohamad Parnianpour. 1. From the Department of Orthotics and Prosthetics, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (FA, MK); Department of Physical Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (IET, JS); School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran Universities of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (GK); and Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran (MP).
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to evaluate the changes occurring in the thickness of deep trunk muscles, measured using ultrasound imaging, after 4 wks of lumbosacral orthosis use in conjunction with routine physical therapy. DESIGN: This parallel-group, randomized, controlled trial was conducted on 44 patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain, randomly allocated to the experimental and control groups. Both groups received eight sessions of physical therapy twice per week for 4 wks. The experimental group wore nonextensible lumbosacral orthosis, in addition to undergoing routine physical therapy. The thickness of the transversus abdominis, obliquus internus, and lumbar multifidus was measured by ultrasound before and after the 4-wk intervention. RESULTS: The deep trunk muscles differed in thickness in various test positions. Four weeks of intervention with lumbosacral orthosis and routine physical therapy, however, did not change the thickness of the obliquus internus, transversus abdominis, and lumbar multifidus. CONCLUSIONS: Wearing lumbosacral orthosis for an average of 7.21 hrs/d for 4 wks in conjunction with routine physical therapy did not affect the thickness of obliquus internus, transversus abdominis, and lumbar multifidus.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to evaluate the changes occurring in the thickness of deep trunk muscles, measured using ultrasound imaging, after 4 wks of lumbosacral orthosis use in conjunction with routine physical therapy. DESIGN: This parallel-group, randomized, controlled trial was conducted on 44 patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain, randomly allocated to the experimental and control groups. Both groups received eight sessions of physical therapy twice per week for 4 wks. The experimental group wore nonextensible lumbosacral orthosis, in addition to undergoing routine physical therapy. The thickness of the transversus abdominis, obliquus internus, and lumbar multifidus was measured by ultrasound before and after the 4-wk intervention. RESULTS: The deep trunk muscles differed in thickness in various test positions. Four weeks of intervention with lumbosacral orthosis and routine physical therapy, however, did not change the thickness of the obliquus internus, transversus abdominis, and lumbar multifidus. CONCLUSIONS: Wearing lumbosacral orthosis for an average of 7.21 hrs/d for 4 wks in conjunction with routine physical therapy did not affect the thickness of obliquus internus, transversus abdominis, and lumbar multifidus.