The purpose of this study was to ascertain the effects of sprinter pattern of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation on pain and balance in patients with chronic low back pain. Twenty-nine subjects participated in this study, these subjects were assigned into two groups, a control group(n=14) and an experimental group(n=15). The subjects in the control group were received a conservative physical therapy and experimental group carried out the sprinter pattern exercise for 30 minutes per day, three times a week during 6 weeks.
In order to evaluate the improvement of pain and static balance ability, corresponding variables were measured at two times, pre and after 6th week. The pain was assessed by using visual analogue scale(VAS) and pressure pain threshold(PPT). The static balance ability was assessed by using GOOD BALANCE system[2 positions - one leg left standing eye open(OLLEO), one leg right standing eye open(OLREO)]. The dynamic balance ability was assessed by using GOOD BALANCE system[anteroposterior velocity(APV) and mediolateral velocity(MLV)].
The collected data were analyzed by using SPSS(version 20.0 for windows) and verified that each data was a normal distribution based on Kolmogorov-Smirnov Goodness-of-fit test. In order to decide the significances of the within-subjects effects and between-subjects effects of pain and static balance ability, the paired t-test and analysis of covariance(ANCOVA) were utilized. In all statistical analyses, significance level was set by α = 0.05.
The results of this study were as follows;
First, in both control and experimental groups, VAS and PPT had no significant difference.
Second, in control group, static balance abilities of only two position(OLLEO-X, Y) had been significantly improved. On the other hand, in experimental group, static balance abilities of all position(all items) had been significantly improved after the exercise. Dynamic balance ability in the exercise before and after, the results of the experimental group in APV and MLV revealed a statistically significant difference.
Third, VAS and PPT had no significant difference between two groups. Static balance abilities of four position(OLLEO-X, V, OLREO-X, V) had significant difference between two groups. Dynamic balance abilities APV and MLV had significant difference between two groups.
The above results indicated that a sprinter pattern exercise improved balance abilities in patients with chronic low back pain. However, in this study, It is difficult to generalize that sprinter pattern exercise application is effective for patients with chronic low back pain. The further studies should be focused at development of various modified forms of the sprinter pattern exercise in keeping up the improvement effect of this exercise.