EFFECTIVENESS OF CONTINUOUS TRACTION IN PRONE VS SUPINE LYINGIN TREATING LUMBAR INTERVERTEBRAL DISC PROLAPSE - A COMPARATIVE STUDY

BACKGROUND: One of the most prevalent causes of disability in the general population is low back pain, between 50percent and 80percentage of individuals experience it at some point throughout their life. One of the causes of LBP is lumbar intervertebral disk abnormalities, which affect 3% to 10% of people. Lumbar traction, which may be applied using a variety of techniques and in various positions, is frequently used to treat a range of lumbar problems. It has been suggested that The intervertebral foramen is widened during lumbar traction to relieve pressure on the nerve roots and to separate the vertebral bodies, which reduces compressive forces on the discs, and helps herniated disks reposition themselves by putting tension on the spinal ligaments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using an easy sample technique based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 40 participants were chosen. The subject was informed about the study and provided with a written consent form. In prone position group (n=20) continuous lumbar traction was given in prone lying with interferential therapy with 4 sittings per week for 2 weeks and in supine position group (n=20) continuous lumbar traction was given in supine lying with interferential therapy in 4 sittings per week for 2 weeks. Disability and pain were assessed using Oswestry disability questionnaire and Visual analogue scale respectively before and after the intervention. RESULT: Using the paired ‘t-test and the unpaired ‘t-test, the values were statistically analyzed. A statistically significant difference between the prone position group and the supine position group, as well as within the group, was discovered by statistical analysis of the quantitative data. The post- test mean value of oswestry disability questionnaire in prone position group was 16.30 and supine position group was 17.20. This showed that the treatment protocol given for prone position group is comparatively more effective than supine position group. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that when continuous traction was administered in both prone and supine positions to individuals with lumbar intervertebral disc prolapse, pain and disability were significantly reduced. But when compared to continuous traction in supine laying, traction in prone lying demonstrated a more effective reduction in pain and impairment.