title: Effectiveness of a back care pillow as an adjuvant physical therapy for chronic non-specific low back pain treatment: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: [Purpose] The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a back care pillow (BCP) on pain, lumbar range of motion (LROM) and functional disability of patients with chronic non-specific low back pain (LBP). [Subjects and Methods] Fifty-two subjects who were aged between 20-69 years old, who presented with LBP of more than 3 months duration with a numerical rating scale (NRS) value of at least 4 were randomly assigned to treatment (BCP) and control (CON) groups. Participants in each group received six sessions of the 30 minutes treatment for two weeks. The BCP group was asked to wear the BCP during the daytime during the study period. Pain, lumbar ROM and functional disability were assessed before and after the 2-week treatment, and at the end of a 12-week follow up. [Results] After the 2-week treatment and 12-week follow up, all outcomes had improved in both groups; the BCP group had maintained the decrease in pain intensity and improved lumbar ROM in the extension position after the 12-week follow up, and showed better improvements in all outcomes at 2 weeks and after the 12-week follow up. [Conclusion] BCP combined with physical therapy had better pain, lumbar ROM and functional disability outcomes than physical therapy alone.
authors: School of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Thailand ; Research Center in Back, Neck, Other Joint Pain and Human Performance (BNOJPH), Khon Kaen University, Thailand.
authors: Bundit
authors: B
authors: Prommanon
authors: School of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Thailand ; Research Center in Back, Neck, Other Joint Pain and Human Performance (BNOJPH), Khon Kaen University, Thailand.
authors: Rungthip
authors: R
authors: Puntumetakul
authors: School of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Thailand ; Research Center in Back, Neck, Other Joint Pain and Human Performance (BNOJPH), Khon Kaen University, Thailand.
authors: Punnee
authors: P
authors: Puengsuwan
authors: School of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Thailand ; Research Center in Back, Neck, Other Joint Pain and Human Performance (BNOJPH), Khon Kaen University, Thailand.
authors: Uraiwan
authors: U
authors: Chatchawan
authors: School of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Thailand ; Research Center in Back, Neck, Other Joint Pain and Human Performance (BNOJPH), Khon Kaen University, Thailand.
authors: Torkamol
authors: T
authors: Kamolrat
authors: Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Khon Kaen University, Thailand.
authors: Theera
authors: T
authors: Rittitod
authors: Graduate School of Human Health Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Japan ; Future Institute for Sport Sciences, Japan.
authors: Junichiro
authors: J
authors: Yamauchi
keywords: Chronic low back pain; Lower back support; Numerical rating scale