INFLUÊNCIA DE TÉCNICAS MANIPULATIVAS SOBRE PADRÕES DE EQUILÍBRIO ESTÁTICO, QUASE-ESTÁTICO E DINÂMICO EM INDIVÍDUOS COM DOR LOMBAR CRÔNICA: ENSAIO CLÍNICO ALEATORIZADO

Abstract

Chronic low back pain is one of the most prevalent and debilitating health conditions, compromising the individual's physical capacity, causing functional impairments that impact the individual and society. The main purpose of this research is to analyze the influence of the application of manipulative techniques on the static, quasi-static and dynamic balance patterns of individuals with chronic low back pain, as well as to compare variables of the static, quasi-static and dynamic balance tests between experimental and placebo groups. The research is justified by the high prevalence of individuals with low back pain, the importance of elucidating the influences of therapeutic approaches for the treatment of low back pain, the high costs to the financial systems involved in work absence, in the treatment of the condition around the world, and the need for advances in research on the subject. This is a quantitative, experimental, longitudinal, pre/post-intervention, controlled, randomized clinical trial study. The sample consisted of 30 individuals of both sexes, with chronic low back pain, aged between 18 and 59 years, without any other chronic or acute musculoskeletal condition in the lower limbs or factors that could influence the data, such as ongoing pregnancy, neurological and cognitive disorders, cardiorespiratory diseases, and balance disorders. The volunteers were randomized into two groups: an experimental group, in which global manipulation techniques were applied to the thoracolumbar and lumbopelvic regions, and a placebo group. The modified sensory organization test (SOT), the star excursion balance test (SEBT) and pain pressure threshold algometry were performed in the pre- and post-intervention period. As a result, it can be observed that the application of a spinal manipulation session in the thoracolumbar and lumbopelvic regions did not generate significant differences in the static, quasi- static and dynamic balance variables in individuals with chronic low back pain. Comparisons between the baseline (AV1) and the post- intervention assessments (AV2, AV3 and AV4) showed small or insignificant effects, with similar results between the experimental and placebo groups in the pain sensitivity measurements and in balance (SOT and SEBT).