The effects of selective Pilates versus extension-based exercises on rehabilitation of low back pain

INTRODUCTION

Chronic non-specific low back pain (LBP) may lead to functional impairment and physical disability. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of selective Pilates (SP) and extension-based (EB) exercises on pain, lumbar spine curvature, lumbar forward flexion range of motion (ROM), and physical disability in such individuals.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this randomized clinical trial, Forty-seven patients with chronic non-specific LBP (Mean of age: 39.7 years) were randomly allocated into either SP (N = 16), EB (N = 15), or control (N = 16) groups. The measurements included pain intensity, physical disability, lumbar forward bending ROM, and lumbar spine curvature at the baseline, after receiving the 6-week interventions, and also following one month of cessation of the exercises The analysis of co-variance (ANCOVA) and Post-hoc Bonferroni tests were administered to compare the three groups after the interventions and one month later (P < 0.05).

RESULTS

More significant improvement was observed in SP group compared to the subjects receiving EB exercises in terms of pain, ROM, and physical disability (P < 0.001), however, there was no significant difference between the two experimental groups for lumbar curvature (P > 0.05). Furthermore; in follow-up, the patients in SP group significantly achieved a higher level of pain intensity improvement and lumbar flexion ROM than the EB exercises (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

It is estimated that core muscles activation and improving lumbopelvic rhythm in SP training may play a role in decreasing pain and physical disability in chronic LBP patients. Further high-quality studies are required to investigate the details of this mechanism.

Evaluation of Relationship between Trunk Muscle Endurance and Static Balance in Male Students

Purpose

Fatigue of trunk muscle contributes to spinal instability over strenuous and prolonged physical tasks and therefore may lead to injury, however from a performance perspective, relation between endurance efficient core muscles and optimal balance control has not been well-known. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of trunk muscle endurance and static balance.

Methods

Fifty male students inhabitant of Tehran university dormitory (age 23.9±2.4, height 173.0±4.5 weight 70.7±6.3) took part in the study. Trunk muscle endurance was assessed using Sørensen test of trunk extensor endurance, trunk flexor endurance test, side bridge endurance test and static balance was measured using single-limb stance test. A multiple linear regression analysis was applied to test if the trunk muscle endurance measures significantly predicted the static balance.

Results

There were positive correlations between static balance level and trunk flexor, extensor and lateral endurance measures (Pearson correlation test, r=0.80 and P<0.001; r=0.71 and P<0.001; r=0.84 and P<0.001, respectively). According to multiple regression analysis for variables predicting static balance, the linear combination of trunk muscle endurance measures was significantly related to the static balance (F (3,46) = 66.60, P<0.001). Endurance of trunk flexor, extensor and lateral muscles were significantly associated with the static balance level. The regression model which included these factors had the sample multiple correlation coefficient of 0.902, indicating that approximately 81% of the variance of the static balance is explained by the model.

Conclusion

There is a significant relationship between trunk muscle endurance and static balance.

Preparation and characterization of poly(acryl amide-coacrylic acid)/nay and Clinoptilolite nanocomposites with improved methylene blue dye removal behavior from aqueous solution

The nanocomposites of poly(acryl amide-co-acrylic acid) with NaY and Clinoptilolite were prepared using ammonium persulfate as an initiator and N,N′- methylene bis acryl amide as the cross-linker. The morphology was characterized by SEM and the structure of nanocomposite materials was studied with XRD and FT-IR that showed the interaction between porous materials and poly(AAm-co- AAc). Thermo gravimetric analyzer (TGA) curve shows that all the chain-extended poly(AAm-co-AAc) are stable up to 250 °C and maximum weight loss occurs at 890 °C. The TGA results indicated higher stability for poly(acryl amide-co-acrylic acid)/NaY and Clinoptilolite composites than poly(AAm-co-AAc). The adsorption and desorption behavior of methylene blue were investigated for nanocomposites. It was shown that poly(AAm-co-AAc)/NaY and Clinoptilolite nanocomposites have higher adsorption than NaY, Clinoptilolite and poly(AAm-co-AAc) alone. This effect was attributed to good interaction between the hydroxyl group in porous materials and carboxylic group in poly(AAm-co-AAc) with methylene blue.