The effect of aquatic therapy stretching and strengthening exercises on a 54 year- old female with chronic low back pain and lower extremity radicular symptoms: a case report
Type of Presentation
Event
Location
Hall of Governors
Start Date
4-7-2017 4:00 PM
End Date
4-7-2017 6:00 PM
Abstract
Background and Purpose: Low back pain is one of the top leading causes of disability in the country. Low back pain can be accompanied with radiating symptoms in the lower extremities such as pain, numbness, and tingling. It is recommended that patients with high-level disability attend aquatic therapy as an initial form of treatment and transition to land therapy. Interventions including resistance exercise, aerobic exercise, and flexibility exercises in the water can decrease the amount of loads placed on injured tissues. Stabilizing muscles surrounding the spine such as the core, gluteal, and leg muscle groups can be activated at with less force in an aquatic environment.
Case Description: The patient was a 54 year old female who presented to physical therapy with chronic low back pain and left leg pain. The patient was afraid of aggravating her leg pain, and therefore was fearful of exercise. Due to her low level of fitness and fear of exercise on land, aquatic therapy was recommended. She received core strengthening, lower extremity strengthening and static stretching for piriformis, hamstrings and hip flexors in the pool 2 times a week for 4 weeks. Outcomes: The patient completed a total of 7 aquatic therapy sessions. She reported a significant decrease in back and leg pain, her Oswestry low back pain questionnaire score was improved and she had improved lower extremity strength.
Discussion: The use of aquatic therapy along with the patients home exercise program resulted in a reduction in lumbar and left leg symptom s, The subjects decrease in pain, improvement in overall function and decrease in fear of exercise indicate that aquatic therapy is an effective treatment for patients with chronic low back pain.
The effect of aquatic therapy stretching and strengthening exercises on a 54 year- old female with chronic low back pain and lower extremity radicular symptoms: a case report
Hall of Governors
Background and Purpose: Low back pain is one of the top leading causes of disability in the country. Low back pain can be accompanied with radiating symptoms in the lower extremities such as pain, numbness, and tingling. It is recommended that patients with high-level disability attend aquatic therapy as an initial form of treatment and transition to land therapy. Interventions including resistance exercise, aerobic exercise, and flexibility exercises in the water can decrease the amount of loads placed on injured tissues. Stabilizing muscles surrounding the spine such as the core, gluteal, and leg muscle groups can be activated at with less force in an aquatic environment.
Case Description: The patient was a 54 year old female who presented to physical therapy with chronic low back pain and left leg pain. The patient was afraid of aggravating her leg pain, and therefore was fearful of exercise. Due to her low level of fitness and fear of exercise on land, aquatic therapy was recommended. She received core strengthening, lower extremity strengthening and static stretching for piriformis, hamstrings and hip flexors in the pool 2 times a week for 4 weeks. Outcomes: The patient completed a total of 7 aquatic therapy sessions. She reported a significant decrease in back and leg pain, her Oswestry low back pain questionnaire score was improved and she had improved lower extremity strength.
Discussion: The use of aquatic therapy along with the patients home exercise program resulted in a reduction in lumbar and left leg symptom s, The subjects decrease in pain, improvement in overall function and decrease in fear of exercise indicate that aquatic therapy is an effective treatment for patients with chronic low back pain.