Original Research Article
Year: 2022 | Month: May | Volume: 12 | Issue: 5 | Pages: 15-22
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20220503
Effect of Hip Flexor Muscles Strengthening and Femoral Nerve Sliding on Lumber Lordosis and Low Back Pain
Priya Nischal1, Shagun Agarwal2, Dinesh Kumar3
1Masters Scholar-Orthopaedic, 2Prof. (Head), IAMR, Ghaziabad, UP, India.
3Department of Physiotherapy, Jindal Steel and Power Limited, Delhi, India.
Corresponding Author: Priya Nischal
ABSTRACT
Background: Lower back pain (LBP) is a world-wide problem related to health and it’s most common as well as pricey musculoskeletal condition or disorder in the today’s societies. By far, the most common cause is mechanical factor (97%). While reflexive activity of the psoas muscle may be because of adverse neural tension in the femoral nerve and its roots, adaptive shortening in the psoas muscle may also results in limitations in neural mobility. This study has been done to evaluate the effect of hip flexor muscles strengthening and femoral nerve stretching/sliding on LBP and lumbar lordotic curve.
Methods: This was an experimental study type study in which 30 eligible subjects were taken as per inclusion and exclusion criteria and randomly divided into 2 groups (15 in each). The pre and post-test measurements including Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Roland- Morris Low Back Pain and Disability Questionnaire and were done regarding pain and disability respectively. Along with this lumbar lordotic curve was measured using flexible ruler in each group. The control group was given conservative treatment with some general core strengthening exercises and home advice, while experimental group was given hip flexors strengthening exercises (in sitting), femoral nerve sliding/stretching in addition to the control group’s protocol for 4 weeks. Results were analyzed using Kolmogorov-Smirnov and t-tests.
Findings: On comparing both groups post treatment results showed a significant improvement in terms of RMQ and VAS scores and also changes in the LLA (Lumbar Lordotic Angle). Overall outcome of this study proved that conservative treatment (with some core exercises), hip flexor muscles strengthening and femoral nerve sliding are helpful for non- specific LBA subjects.
Interpretation: The results obtained showed that experimental group (conservative treatment, hip flexor muscles strengthening and femoral nerve sliding) showed slightly more improvement in comparison to control group (conservative treatment with some core exercises).
Key words: Low back pain, Hip Flexor Muscles strengthening, Femoral nerve sliding, RMQ, VAS, Flexible ruler.