Fascia Stretching Improve the Pain and Functional Level in Disc Protrusion Patients
JRCRS-2016; 4(1): 7-10
Abstract
Background: Conservative management of spine problems is safe and secure as compare to
surgery. In physical therapy different exercise protocols are design to solve the multiple spine
problems. Most of the time the fascia restriction makes the patient condition verse. Guy Voyer
introduce the systems of exercise more than 35 years ago which works specially on spine at every
intervertebral level including costal and pelvic articulation. These exercises are called Elongation
Longitudinaux avec Decoaption Osteo-Articulaire (ELDOA) or simply Longitudinal Osteo-Articular
De-coaptation Stretching (LOADS).
Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the effectiveness of Facia Stretching in
patients with disc protrusion.
Methodology: This is a Quasi Experimental study. This study was conducted in Department of
physical therapy and rehabilitation center Pakistan railway hospital Rawalpindi from July 2014 to
December 2014.Through convenient sampling 14 patients who had establish diagnosis of Spine disc
protrusion with no history of trauma were recruited in this study. The sampling techniques was
Convenient Sampling initially 14 patients recruit for this study those had establish diagnosis of disc
protrusion on MRI and non-traumatic disc protrusion patient, but only 12 follow the complete
session. The rehabilitation program includes application of hot packs and teaching of ELDOA
exercise. Base line evaluation of demographic, symptomatology and comorbidities were taken. Selfreported
questionnaire functional disability index (FDI) were filled on 1st and 4th visit to compare the
disability index.
Results: The mean age of the participants was 53.25 + 7.10 with male female ratio 3:1. Most
common spinal segment was cervical disc protrusion C5-C6 (25%) and L4-L5 (33.33%) in lumber
disc protrusion. The pretreatment intensity of pain (FRI) was 2.58 ± 1.165 and post treatment
intensity of pain was 0.92 ± 0.793, it shows the significant difference (P < 0.001). The frequency of
pain also shows the significant difference. FRI score on 1st evaluation was 21.42 ± 9.307 and after
ELDOA Exercise on 4th assessment the mean score was 7.92 ± 5.583, also shows statistically
significant (P < 0.001) difference.
Conclusion: The ELDOA exercises improve the pain and functional level in the spinal disc
protrusion patients.
Keywords: Disc Protrusion, ELDOA, LOADS, Spinal Fascia
