Effectiveness of an exercise program combined with other Physiotherapy interventions in patients with non-specific lower pain: a pilot study

Abstract

Background and objective: low back pain is a common musculoskeletal health condition in society. One of the leading causes of disability globally and has generated a significant burden in terms of work disability and high he-althcare costs. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the effect of physical exercise plus dry ne-edling versus physical exercise plus elastic bandage. Material and method: randomized clinical trial with a total of 14 people, where pain was evaluated using the ENA scale and functionality using the Oswestry self-questionnaire,the participants received trunk exercises and were divided into two groups which received application of a bandage.
Elastic and dry needling treatment respectively. Results: after the intervention, improvements in pain were observed in the dry needling group (Cohen's d = 1.891; 95 % CI = 0.59-3.148; p = 0.002) and bandage (Cohen's d =1.935; 95 % CI = 0.614-3.21; p = 0.002) and in the Oswestry questionnaire in the bandage group (Cohen's d =1.021; 95 % CI = 0.064-1.926; p = 0.036). No difference was observed in the Oswestry questionnaire in the dry needling group (Cohen 's d = 0.603; 95 % CI = -0.229-1.366; p = 0.162). Conclusion: elastic taping plus physical exercise may have better immediate effects on improving pain and functionality in patients with nonspecific low back pain than dry needling plus physical exercise.