NCT05585294

Water Versus Land Based Perturbation Exercises in Elderly Participants With Back Pain

The Effectiveness of Perturbation Exercises in Elderly Back Pain

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 24 (actual)
• Sponsor: Gulf Medical University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 55 Years – 85 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of land based versus water based perturbation exercises on the pain, disability, fear of falling, and fear avoidance beliefs in elderly participants. Overweight/obese subgroup was compared with healthy weight with chronic low back pain participants to investigate any effect on BMI on both interventions. The results of the study revealed that both exercise groups i.e., land and water based exercise had a significant reduction in pain level, fear of falling, fear avoidance belief related to work, disability and improved SLR.

Detailed description

Twenty-four grouped into 12 per group participated water based and land based exercise protocol. Both groups were given McKenzie Method of exercises in 1st week based on the treatment-based classification (TBC) approach or personalized to the need of participants as per TBC. Perturbation-based postural exercises were given to participants, which were performed on land or water for 6 weeks. The perturbation based exercises were categorized into four levels, where level 1:static postural control, 2:dynamic postural control 3:Extremity loaded postural control and 4: cognitive task associated postural control. The perturbation were provided at shoulder and hip level, by intervention providers progressive enough to initiate anticipatory or compensatory postural adjustments. Both groups were educated on pain assurance and spinal ergonomics feedback. The Outcomes were measured using a Visual analog scale, Oswestry disability index, Fear avoidance belief questionnaire, Straight leg raise, Modified fall efficacy scale, and Borg scale. The pain level were assessed for personalized progression from level 1 to level 4 progression of perturbation exercises. Both the exercise groups of land and water showed improvement in measured clinical outcomes in terms of reduction in pain level, fear of falling, fear avoidance belief related to work, SLR, and disability. Water-based group showed additional benefits and significant improvement in fear avoidance belief related to physical activity and exercised with low rate of perceived exertion.

Conditions

• Back Pain
• Back Pain With Radiation
• Back Pain Without Radiation
• Back Pain Lower Back Chronic

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Exercises	Perturbation exercises: A new protocol of perturbation exercises aimed to disturb static and dynamic posture or equilibrium at primarily at body segments at hip and shoulder level were provided. The perturbation was initially started as anticipatory postural adjustment and progressed to compensatory postural adjustment, where stepping on various directions were challenged. The nature of perturbation or push or nudges applied by physiotherapists were progressed from a) self-generated to therapist applied, anticipated to unanticipated, stable to unstable platforms, static to dynamic postural tasks with loaded extremities and at higher level simple to higher cognitive tasks were also incorporated.

Timeline

• Start date: 2019-12-21
• Primary completion: 2022-11-01
• Completion: 2022-11-30
• First posted: 2022-10-18
• Last updated: 2023-04-14

Locations

2 sites across 1 country: United Arab Emirates