Comparison of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation with other exercises on Pain and Disability in patients with Non-specific Chronic Low Back Pain: A Meta Analysis

Abstract

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is encountered in both developed and developing countries. It has become
one of the commonest health threats. Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) exercises are designed to
enhance stimulation of proprioception in neuromuscular junction, thereby leading to greater reduction in pain
and disability score along with increase in ROM and core strength. Therefore, the present study is intended to
compare the role of PNF and other exercise approach.
Objectives: To compare the effect of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) and other exercise
approaches in Non-specific low back pain.
Methods: In this review, Pub Med, Google Scholar, Cochrane CENTRAL databases were searched for prospective
studies fulfilling inclusion and exclusion criteria. Randomized controlled trials comparing PNF with other
treatment techniques to treat chronic non-specific low back pain were included in this review. Data was extracted
and assessed for the quality of the trials by two independent reviewers. The results were presented in form of
forest plots.
Results: 11 studies were included in the review for qualitative analysis and meta-analysis. All the studieshowever,
relatively little study has been undertaken examining the effects of massage on women in labour. Methods. A
randomized controlled study was conducted between September 1999 and January 2000. Sixty primiparous
women expected to have a normal childbirth at a regional hospital in southern Taiwan were randomly assigned
to either the experimental (n=30 were included in the meta-analysis of pain and eight of the studies were included
in the meta-analysis of the functional disability due to back pain. Overall, there was a small reduction in pain
intensity of low back pain in patients receiving PNF treatment as compared to other treatment techniques (SMD:
-1.41 [95% CI: -1.97, -0.84], I2= 82.9%; p<0.000). ). There was marked improvement in functional disability in low
back patients after PNF than other treatment techniques (SMD: -1.63 [95% CI: -2.28, -0.98], I2= 80.8%; p<0.000).
Conclusion: PNF group was more beneficial than other treatment techniques in decreasing pain and functional
disability scores in 4- to 6-week intervention. This meta-analysis suggests publication bias.