Effect of Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization on Pain and Lumbar Mobility in Desk-Job Professionals with Mechanical Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Abstract
: Background: Mechanical low back pain (MLBP) is very common among desk-job workers as a result of extended sitting in a fixed position and a lack of lumbar mobility. Although traditional physiotherapy is the most important part of management, persistent soft-tissue restrictions can compromise the best possible outcome. IASTM has been suggested as a mechanotherapy adjunct to enhance tissue movement and pain. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of IASTM and conventional physiotherapy on pain, lumbar spine mobility, and functional disability in mechanical low back pain desk-job professionals. Methods: The study was a double-blinded randomized controlled trial of 48 desk-job professionals with chronic mechanical low back pain. The subjects were randomly assigned to two groups: Group A (physiotherapy with IASTM) and Group B (physiotherapy without IASTM). Treatments lasted 4 weeks. The outcome measures were a Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and lumbar flexibility (flexion and extension) measured with a dual inclinometer. The data were analysed statistically in SPSS version 23 at the p ≤ 0.05 significance level. Findings: Both groups showed significant improvement in pain, lumbar mobility, and disability at 4 weeks (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, the IASTM group demonstrated many more changes in pain (post-treatment NPRS: 2.8 ± 1.0 vs 3.9 ± 1.2; p = 0.018) and disability (ODI: 18.4 ± 5.8 vs 24.7 ± 6.1; p = 0.022) than the conventional group. Lumbar flexion and extension also improved in both groups, with greater improvements in the IASTM group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: IASTM augmented with traditional physiotherapy yielded superior short-term outcomes in pain, lumbar range of motion, and functional disability than traditional physiotherapy alone among desk-job professionals with mechanical low back pain. IASTM could be an effective addition to rehabilitation to improve outcomes; however, long-term research is required to confirm lasting benefit.