Effects of Posterior to Anterior Mobilization and Press up Exercise in Response to Pain and Function in Mechanical Low Back Pain

The objective of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the efficacy Posterior to Anterior mobilization and press up exercise in response to pain and function in Mechanical Low back pain. Thirty (20 male and 10 female) subjects with mechanical low back pain participated in the study completed the trial. Subjects were randomly placed into two groups receiving the Posterior to Anterior mobilization (n=15, Group A) and press up exercise (n=15, Group B). In Group A three bouts of 40- second oscillations was applied. Following mobilization of the most painful segment, 2 bouts of 40- second oscillations (up to grade IV but short of symptom reproduction) were administered to each of the remaining lumbar vertebral levels. Subjects assigned to Group B were asked to perform a pressup maneuver as far as possible without reproducing lumbar pain. The subjects in both the groups underwent a complete evaluation where the VAS score and the Oswestry disability index were recorded. On between group comparisons, Group A showed significant improvement as compared to Group B at the end of trial (p<0.05). The results of the study suggest that the Posterior to Anterior mobilization was more effective when compared with press up exercise.