Analysis of postural balance in individuals with chronic low back pain before and after ten sessions of physical therapy

• Grant number: 08/06924-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2009
• End date: December 31, 2009
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Thaís Weber de Alencar Bojadsen
• Grantee: Mariane Aparecida Fernandes Do Espírito Santo
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria Acadêmica. Centro Universitário FIEO (UNIFIEO). Fundação Instituto de Ensino para Osasco (FIEO). Osasco , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Chronic low back pain presents high prevalence in Brazilian society. Chronic pain reduces corporal balance and increases the risk of fall. Although this data, specialized literature do not praise the re-education of the balance for individuals with chronic low back pain. The objective of this study is to evaluate the corporal balance of adult individuals with chronic lumbar pain and to test if a protocol that includes exercises for balance re-education can affect the postural control and lumbar pain. Thus, 40 individuals of both genders, aged 20 to 60 years, who present low back pain longer than three months will be selected. Pain intensity will be evaluated by the visual analogical scale (VAS) and body balance will be measure on a force platform that will register the displacement of its center of pressure. After the test, will be initiated the physical therapy treatment two times per week, during one hour, for five weeks. The sample will be divided in two groups. The first group will receive a treatment based in evidences. The second group will do the same treatment plus exercises for balance re-education. After the ten sessions, all the subjects will be reevaluated by VAS and the force platform. Test t of student will be applied to evaluate if it has significant difference between the groups and a p less than 0.05 will be considered significant.Key words: balace, low back pain and physical therapy. (AU)