The Effect of Stretching Hamstring, Gastrocnemius, Iliopsoas and Back Muscles on Pain and Functional Activities in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

A back pain lasting more than 12 weeks has been defined as a chronic low back pain (LBP) [1]. More than half of people suffer from LBP [1]. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of gastrocnemius muscle stretching in the treatment of chronic low back pain. Methods: Forty patients with chronic low back pain, ages ranging from 25 to 40 years, were recruited and divided randomly into two groups. The control group followed a physical therapy program that included stretching exercises for back, hamstring and iliopsoas muscles. Strengthening exercises for abdominal muscle and postural instructions for activities of daily living were also performed. The experimental group followed the same control-group exercises with the addition of stretching exercises for gastrocnemius muscles. The interventions for both groups consisted of three sessions per week for six weeks, each session lasting for an hour. The outcome measures were visual analog scale (VAS) for pain severity, modified fingertip to floor (FTF) for range of motion (ROM) of trunk flexion, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and loading X-ray to detect lumbosacral angle. Results:

A Study on the Relationship between Postural Control and Pain-Related Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain

“…e GA is the agonist muscle for knee flexion which indirectly affected the hamstrings and limits the range of trunk forward bending [12,40]. It was reported that cNLBP patients had high muscle tension of the GA [40], and stretching intervention of the GA might reduce pain and improve functional level in patients with cLBP [31]. ese studies supported that the iEMGs of GA were related to the disability performance in our daily tasks.…”

“…It consists of ten questions, and each question has six responses that correspond to a score between 1 and 5. e higher the score, the higher the disability level. A total score of 50 would indicate 100% disability [30,31].…”

The correlation between the angle of calcaneal eversion and gastrocnemius extensibility with nonspecific low back pain in obese women

“…8 This is also in line with several previous studies which confirmed the correlation between complaints of chronic low back pain and calf muscle tightness, especially the gastrocnemius muscle. 8,14,15 The gastrocnemius muscle contributes to knee flexion movements and tension in this muscle will indirectly affect the hamstring muscles so that it can limit forward bending which can cause back pain because of its influence on the lumbar pelvic rhythm. 10 Based on Table 4, through the spearman's rho test, the results show that there is no correlation between the angle of calcaneal eversion and gastrocnemius extensibility with the sig value (2-tailed) 0.609.…”

Can a cervical muscle inhibition technique reduce chronic low back pain?

“…The weak abdominal muscles and tightness of hamstring, glutei muscles can also lead to low back ache [5]. The hamstring is the muscle which often gets tight and its flexibility is important for the normal lumbar spine mechanics [2,6].…”

“…There are various types of spinal exercises that are used to treat chronic low back pain (CLBP), such as hamstring stretching, back muscles stretching, core stabilization exercise and strengthening exercises for low back muscles [5,15]. In CLBP patients, there is restriction in trunk movements, decreases core strength and increases lumbar instability which results in low back pain [16].…”