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Full and limited range of motion exercises similarly improve chronic back pain
Researchers of this study found no significant differences in outcome measures between patients with non-specific low back pain who underwent isolated lumbar extension resistance training with either a full or limited range of motion.
“The results suggest that both [full range of motion] FullROM and [limited range of motion] LimROM are equally effective in increasing full ROM lumbar extension strength and producing clinically meaningful improvement in perceived pain and disability,” James Steele, BSc (Hons), and colleagues wrote in their study abstract.
The researchers randomized 38 participants to either a FullROM, LimROM or control group. Exercise for the FullROM and LimROM groups consisted of one set of isolated lumbar extension resistance training at 80% of their maximum torque performed once a week. The LimROM group trained using 50% of their whole ROM compared to full ROM for the FullROM group.
Twenty-four patients were available for follow-up after the 12-week intervention, according to the abstract.
Steele and colleagues found no significant differences between FullROM and LimROM participants compared to the control group regarding full lumbar extension strength, revised ODI and VAS scores, according to the abstract.
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