Investigating The Impact Of Fascial Manipulation On The Lateral Thigh Region In Mechanical Low Back Pain: A Comprehensive Study

Abstract

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a highly prevalent musculoskeletal ailment, affecting approximately 90% of individuals during their lifetime, with recurring episodes experienced by up to 50% of the affected population. Prior research has emphasized the advantages of fascial manipulation for chronic low back pain when compared to manual therapy alone. Detecting fascial densification in specific points of the lateral thigh region during the acute phase of low back pain is crucial, as targeting these points with deep friction aims to restore the natural gliding properties of the fascia, resulting in immediate relief of low back pain, increased range of motion, and enhanced functionality.

Methods: This study included sixty participants who were randomly assigned to two groups using a simple randomization method. The allocation was performed by the primary investigator before baseline assessments. Group A, the control group, received conventional exercises, including core stability exercises, while Group B, the experimental group, underwent fascial manipulation of the lateral thigh region in the lower limb. Both groups received interferential therapy for 20 minutes as part of conventional low back pain treatment over a 15-day period. The participants' pain levels were assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), and range of motion (ROM) was evaluated to identify any lumbar region restrictions caused by fascial densification. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) was used to assess functional activities of daily life. Scores for these measures were recorded both before and after the interventions for both groups.

Results: Pre- and post-test results were analyzed using both paired and unpaired t-tests. The study utilized outcome measures such as the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, Modified Schober's test, and the Oswestry Disability Index. An unpaired t-test comparing post-test values between Group A and Group B revealed a highly significant difference (p<0.001) in terms of pain relief, improved range of motion, and enhanced functional abilities among subjects in Group B compared to those in Group A.

Conclusion: Fascial manipulation of the lateral thigh region demonstrated its effectiveness over conventional exercises, yielding clinically and statistically significant improvements in pain relief, range of motion, and daily functional activities among subjects with mechanical low back pain.