Effects of exercise therapy on muscular strength in firefighters with back pain.
[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to determine how an exercise program focusing on muscular strength could aid firefighters with chronic lower back pain. [Subjects] The research subjects were randomly assigned to two groups, the experimental group (n=8) and the control (n=8). [Methods] The experimental group performed two types of exercise programs four times per week for 8 weeks under supervision. Tests were performed before and after the 8 weeks of exercise in accordance with the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency's program. [Results] At the end of the 8 weeks of the rehabilitation program, abdominal muscular strength were significantly increased in the experimental group, and this indicates that the exercise therapy was effective for improvement of muscular strength. [Conclusion] We found that exercise therapy is an effective intervention that can reduce the pain of patients with chronic lower back pain. The firefighters with chronic lower back pain who participated in this study exhibited enhanced lower back muscular strength and obtained some additional benefits. They need regular exercise.
Department of Emergency Medical Technology, Kangwon National University, Republic of Korea.
Tae-Young
TY
Moon
Department of Emergency Medical Technology, Kangwon National University, Republic of Korea.
Jee-Hee
JH
Kim
Department of Emergency Medical Technology, Kangwon National University, Republic of Korea.
Hak-Ju
HJ
Gwon
Department of Emergency Medical Technology, Kangwon National University, Republic of Korea.
Bang-Sung
BS
Hwan
Department of Emergency Medical Technology, Kangwon National University, Republic of Korea.
Gyoung-Yong
GY
Kim
Department of Sports and Exercise Sciences, University of Chichester, UK.
Neal
N
Smith
Department of Sports and Leisure, University of Daegu, Republic of Korea.
Gun-Soo
GS
Han
Department of Emergency Medical Service, Honam University, Republic of Korea.
Hyo-Cheol
HC
Lee
Department of Emergency Medical Technology, Kangwon National University, Republic of Korea.
Byung-Jun
BJ
Cho
Firefighters; Lower back pain; Muscular strength