Effects of a Myofascial Technique on the Stiffness and Thickness of the Thoracolumbar Fascia and Lumbar Erector Spinae Muscles in Adults with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized before-and-after Experimental Study
The thoracolumbar fascia (TLF) may be a pain generator, given its rich innervation. Structural and biomechanical changes have also been documented in adults with chronic non-specific low back pain (LBP). Myofascial techniques (MFTs) are commonly used in manual therapy and are hypothesized to reduce...
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| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Bioengineering |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/10/3/332 |
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| author | Karine Devantéry Mélanie Morin Julien Grimard Nathaly Gaudreault |
| author_facet | Karine Devantéry Mélanie Morin Julien Grimard Nathaly Gaudreault |
| author_sort | Karine Devantéry |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The thoracolumbar fascia (TLF) may be a pain generator, given its rich innervation. Structural and biomechanical changes have also been documented in adults with chronic non-specific low back pain (LBP). Myofascial techniques (MFTs) are commonly used in manual therapy and are hypothesized to reduce tissue stiffness and pain. However, evidence for these effects is limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate the immediate effects of a standardized MFT compared to a simulated MFT on: (1) the stiffness of the TLF and erector spinae muscles (shear-wave sonoelastography), (2) the thickness of the TLF (B-mode ultrasound), and (3) pain intensity (numerical rating scale). Forty-nine participants with chronic non-specific LBP were included in a randomized before-and-after experimental study. Outcome measures were collected before (T0) and immediately after the intervention (T1). Pain intensity was also assessed on day two (T2) and seven (T7). The MFT group showed a significant decrease in left erector spinae muscle stiffness and left TLF thickness compared to the simulated group. In addition, there was a significant reduction in pain intensity in the MFT group compared to the simulated group at T1 and T2. The results of this study suggest that MFT results in immediate tissue changes and transient pain reduction in patients with LBP. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:55:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-88234d64cf374672b19d3b081bdfc6eb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2306-5354 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:55:36Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
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| series | Bioengineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-88234d64cf374672b19d3b081bdfc6eb2023-11-17T09:39:48ZengMDPI AGBioengineering2306-53542023-03-0110333210.3390/bioengineering10030332Effects of a Myofascial Technique on the Stiffness and Thickness of the Thoracolumbar Fascia and Lumbar Erector Spinae Muscles in Adults with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized before-and-after Experimental StudyKarine Devantéry0Mélanie Morin1Julien Grimard2Nathaly Gaudreault3Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Rehabilitation, University of Sherbrooke, 3001 12th Avenue North, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, CanadaFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Rehabilitation, University of Sherbrooke, 3001 12th Avenue North, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, CanadaFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Rehabilitation, University of Sherbrooke, 3001 12th Avenue North, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, CanadaFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Rehabilitation, University of Sherbrooke, 3001 12th Avenue North, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, CanadaThe thoracolumbar fascia (TLF) may be a pain generator, given its rich innervation. Structural and biomechanical changes have also been documented in adults with chronic non-specific low back pain (LBP). Myofascial techniques (MFTs) are commonly used in manual therapy and are hypothesized to reduce tissue stiffness and pain. However, evidence for these effects is limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate the immediate effects of a standardized MFT compared to a simulated MFT on: (1) the stiffness of the TLF and erector spinae muscles (shear-wave sonoelastography), (2) the thickness of the TLF (B-mode ultrasound), and (3) pain intensity (numerical rating scale). Forty-nine participants with chronic non-specific LBP were included in a randomized before-and-after experimental study. Outcome measures were collected before (T0) and immediately after the intervention (T1). Pain intensity was also assessed on day two (T2) and seven (T7). The MFT group showed a significant decrease in left erector spinae muscle stiffness and left TLF thickness compared to the simulated group. In addition, there was a significant reduction in pain intensity in the MFT group compared to the simulated group at T1 and T2. The results of this study suggest that MFT results in immediate tissue changes and transient pain reduction in patients with LBP.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/10/3/332sonoelastographyultrasonographylow back painthoracolumbar fasciamyofascial releasemanual therapy |
| spellingShingle | Karine Devantéry Mélanie Morin Julien Grimard Nathaly Gaudreault Effects of a Myofascial Technique on the Stiffness and Thickness of the Thoracolumbar Fascia and Lumbar Erector Spinae Muscles in Adults with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized before-and-after Experimental Study Bioengineering sonoelastography ultrasonography low back pain thoracolumbar fascia myofascial release manual therapy |
| title | Effects of a Myofascial Technique on the Stiffness and Thickness of the Thoracolumbar Fascia and Lumbar Erector Spinae Muscles in Adults with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized before-and-after Experimental Study |
| title_full | Effects of a Myofascial Technique on the Stiffness and Thickness of the Thoracolumbar Fascia and Lumbar Erector Spinae Muscles in Adults with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized before-and-after Experimental Study |
| title_fullStr | Effects of a Myofascial Technique on the Stiffness and Thickness of the Thoracolumbar Fascia and Lumbar Erector Spinae Muscles in Adults with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized before-and-after Experimental Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of a Myofascial Technique on the Stiffness and Thickness of the Thoracolumbar Fascia and Lumbar Erector Spinae Muscles in Adults with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized before-and-after Experimental Study |
| title_short | Effects of a Myofascial Technique on the Stiffness and Thickness of the Thoracolumbar Fascia and Lumbar Erector Spinae Muscles in Adults with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized before-and-after Experimental Study |
| title_sort | effects of a myofascial technique on the stiffness and thickness of the thoracolumbar fascia and lumbar erector spinae muscles in adults with chronic low back pain a randomized before and after experimental study |
| topic | sonoelastography ultrasonography low back pain thoracolumbar fascia myofascial release manual therapy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/10/3/332 |
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