Effectiveness of Myofascial release in the management of chronic low back pain in nursing professionals

This report has been verified by one or more authors of the original publication.

80 nursing professionals (aged 20 to 40 years) who were diagnosed with chronic low back pain (pain for 3 or more months) were randomly assigned into 1 of 2 groups to determine if myofascial release effectively reduces chronic low back pain. Patients received either a direct myofascial release (MFR) treatment or a sham treatment. The results of the study indicated that patients in the MFR group experienced significantly better results in the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) for pain and Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale (QBPDS) score for functional disability than the sham group at 8 and 12 week follow up. The proportion of participants responding to treatment (ie. at least a 50% reduction in pain from week 1 to 8) was 73% in the MFR group and 0% in the control. No patient within the MFR or control groups exhibited a 50% reduction in functional disability within the first 8 weeks.