EFFECT OF FOAM ROLLING VERSUS MUSCLE ENERGY TECHNIQUE IN ILIOSACRAL DYSFUNCTION AMONG CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN PATIENTS

Pain in the sacroiliac joint is the most prevalent and often overlooked. The sacroiliac joints are thought to be sources of pain in roughly 15% to 30% of patients with chronic lower back pain. Due to the biomechanical nature of the joint, muscle imbalance is the most important cause of sacroiliac joint dysfunction. There are many studies that look at the treatment approaches separately, none have specifically focused on the ilio-sacral muscle level approach and compared the effects of Foam Rolling and Muscle Energy Technique when used as an adjuvant therapy with conventional physiotherapy treatment to improve pain, and function in Chronic low back pain. Hence, the purpose of this study is to find the effect of Foam Roller versus Muscle energy technique on iliosacral dysfunction among chronic low back patients.
Thirty-eight patients with iliosacral dysfunction (17 males and 21 females), aged 20-40, were randomly assigned to two groups. Group FR received the Foam Rolling, and Group MET received the Muscle Energy Technique and conventional physiotherapy treatment were given to both groups. Both interventions were administered for a period of 2 weeks. Primary Outcome measures were included pain (Visual Analog scale), pressure-pain threshold (Pressure Algometer), and Function. The Secondary Outcome includeed Leg Length Discrepancy and Quality of life (EuroQol-5 Dimension). Evaluations were conducted at three time points: baseline (day 1), post-intervention (at the end of 2 weeks), and Follow-up (after 4 weeks to check the carry-over effect). In conclusion, both Foam Rolling and Muscle Energy Technique as an adjunct to conventional physiotherapy are effective rehabilitation methods for improving pain, function, leg length discrepancy, and overall quality of life on iliosacral dysfunction among chronic low back patients.