Indian Journal of Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy-An International Journal

Abstract

Study Design

A randomized experimental study. Objective The following study is a comparative analysis to check the efficacy of Muscle energy technique & G.D. Maitland’s concept of mobilization in decreasing pain and improving functional ability in patients with sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Hence prove the effectiveness of either technique as a treatment option to treat Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction.

Methods and Measures

A total of 45 subjects with chronic low back pain were recruited in the study, with total mean age of 22.82. Subjects were randomly grouped into 3 group’s viz. Group I (n=15) Muscle energy technique and exercises, Group II (n=15) G. D. Maitland mobilization and Exercises and Group III (n=15) control. The 2 experimental groups participated in a 6 session of Muscle energy technique and G. D. Maitland mobilization respectively. The outcome measures were based on self evaluated pain (thermometer pain rating scale), disability (Oswestry disability index) and hip range of motion (Goniometry)

Results

Mean+SD decrease of visual analogue thermometer at base line for group treated with muscle energy technique was from 3.53+0.51 at base line to 0.20+0.41 post 6 sessions. Similarly for Group II decreased from 3.73+0.7 at baseline to 0.33+0.48 post 6 sessions. The mean Oswestry disability index score within the three groups at base line are, Group I=0.296+0.05, Group II= 0.27+0.05, Control= 0.28+0.05, the mean decrease post 6 sessions was 0.024, 0.067 and 0.23. Medial rotation of hip was significantly improved in subjects in Group I from 21.27+4.5 at base line to 37.93+2.05 post 6 sessions of treatment.

Conclusion

The results of this study showed that along with active exercises Muscle energy technique (MET) is moderately significant over the G.D.Maitland’s technique of mobilization in improving functional ability and increasing the medial rotation of hip joint in mechanical chronic low back pain caused due to sacroiliac joint dysfunction, while both the experimental groups were highly significant in decreasing pain and improving functional ability.

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