Effect of Muscle Energy Techniques on Functional Abilities in Patients With Discogenic Unilateral Sciatica

Disability and emotional distress among patients with lumbar spondylosis has a negative impact on well-being. Anxiety and depression are common emotional problems among patients with LBP.

The experience of pain interferes with different aspects of the patient's life, negatively affecting their daily activities, physical and mental health, family and social relationships, and their interactions in the workplace.

This problem also affects the health care system and what is known as economic well-being, the strong burden associated with Chronic Pain not only deriving from healthcare costs but also from the loss of productivity and from compensatory payments to patients as a result of the disability that pain produces.

Movement research has vast implications for muscle energy techniques for individuals with chronic low back pain and sciatica, the thoracolumbar normal range of motion plays an essential role in transferring the body weight and performing daily activities. Poor spinal range of motion and tightness of paraspinal muscles have previously been noted in individuals with chronic low back pain and sciatica.

Most of the previous studies focused on dealing with chronic low back pain and sciatica through using different medications and physical therapy modalities for the symptoms such as TENS. Since muscle energy techniques can decrease the tension of the muscles of the lumbar spine and gives a real chance to improve the flexibility of those muscles which might inhibit the severity of sciatica with low costs so it's recommended to study its effect on the functional abilities of the patients so that it can be the main part of physical therapy rehabilitation protocol.

Inclusion criteria

• History of sciatica for more than 12 weeks or has at least 3 episodes of intermittent sciatica, each last for morethan 1 week eitheraccompanied with low back pain during the 3 months before thestudy. Medically and radiologically diagnosed as discogenic chronic sciatica with mild to moderate disability according to modified Rolland and Morris scale.

• Both males and females, aged from 25 to 40 years old.
• Be able to understand and follow the instructions during testing and treatment procedures

Exclusion criteria

• Fracture of pelvis, spine or lower extremities.

• Hospitalization for severe trauma.
• Peripheral neuropathy of diabetes or any other autoimmune disease.
• Systematic autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, systematic lupus
• People with red flags such as cancer or severe osteoporosis.
• Symptoms provoked while doing active hip joint extension and abduction.
• Previous surgery to the lumbar spine, abdomen, pelvis, or hip.
• Any contraindication for exercise therapy (e.g. uncontrolled hypertension, previous myocardial infarction, cardiovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, respiratory disorders).
• Any pain originated because of SI pathology.
• Menstruation during testing days.
• Individuals incapable of understanding and answering the Questionnaire.