Effect of slump stretching on pain and disability in non-radicular low back pain

Introduction: Non-radicular back pain is defined as pain, muscle tension, or stiffness in lumbosacral region; without leg pain (sciatica). Non-radicular symptoms lack the nerve root involvement. Slump test which is used for an assessment of altered neurodynamics is recently suggested as an intervention to potentially resolve sites of neural compression, excessive friction or tension, antidromically evoked impulses within nervous system. Objective: The study was aimed to find the effect of slump stretching on pain, disability in non-radicular low back pain. Material and methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted at College of Physiotherapy, Ahmedabad. 60 patients with non-radicular low back pain, aged 20-50 years with positive slump test and negative straight leg rise (SLR) test were invited to take part in this study and a written consent was taken. While patients with positive neurological sign or symptoms, positive SLR test, spinal condition like infection, tumor, osteoporosis, fracture, previous spinal surgery, pregnancy were excluded. Then the patients were divided into two groups: Experimental group; which received hot pack, slump stretching and exercises and Control group; which received hot pack and exercises. Total 6 sessions were given. The outcome measures: NPRS (numerical pain rating scale), MODI (modified oswestry disability index), AKE (active knee extension test) were taken pre and post treatment. Results: Wilcoxon test was applied for within group analysis. There was significant difference pre and post intervention within both case and control group. Values for group A NPRS, MODI, AKE/R, AKE/L are W=4.794, 4.802, 4.360, 4.589, p=<0.001, group B W=4.802, 4.132, 3.508, 3.372, p=<0.001 respectively. While Mann-Whitney U test was applied for in between group analysis there is a significant difference, values for NPRS, MODI, AKE/R, AKE/L are U=65.0, 103.0, 30.0, 37.0,p=<0.001. Conclusion: Slump stretching has an additional effect on pain, disability and range of knee extension motion in patients with non- radicular back pain along with exercises and hot pack.