A comparative study of the therapeutic efficacy of vertical oscillatory pressure and transverse oscillatory pressure in the management of Chronic Low Back Pain

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The use of physical modalities in treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP) is potentially beneficial, but the general evidence still leaves questions about its security application. OBJECTIVE: This study sought to investigate and compare the relative efficacy of Vertical Oscillatory Pressure (VOP) and Transverse Oscillatory Pressure (TOP) in the management chronic low back pain (CLBP) of mechanical origin. METHODS: A two-group, quasi-experimental design was utilized, involving a total of forty-two participants purposively recruited with due consideration of the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Five research questions were raised with corresponding hypotheses formulated for them, which were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The participants were randomly assigned to the VOP and TOP groups, and were subsequently managed thrice weekly for a duration of six weeks. The pain intensity rating, straight leg raising, and spinal range of motion were the outcome measures selected, which were assessed before and after treatment. Data were collected, organized, and analyzed using descriptive and T-Student test analytical statistics. RESULTS: The results of the study showed a significant difference in each of the outcome measures for both groups (p<0,05). CONCLUSION: This suggested that both VOP and VOP were relatively effective in managing CLBP.