title: A randomized controlled trial on the long-term effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation training, on pain-related outcomes and back muscle activity, in patients with chronic low back pain.
abstract: The role of exercise therapy in improving pain-related clinical outcomes and trunk muscle activity in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) has been widely reported. There is little information on the effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) training in patients with CLBP. The purpose of the present study was therefore to investigate the persistence of the effects of PNF training on pain intensity, functional disability, patient satisfaction, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and lower back muscle activity in patients with CLBP.
  
  
  
  Forty-two participants with CLBP were randomly assigned either to 4-week PNF training or to a control group receiving a Low back pain educational booklet. Pain-related outcomes, including pain intensity, functional disability, patient satisfaction, HRQOL and lumbar erector spinae (LES) muscle activity, were measured before and after the intervention, and at a follow-up session 12 weeks after the last intervention session.
  
  
  
  Compared with the control group, after undergoing a 4-week PNF training intervention, participants showed a significant reduction in pain intensity and functional disability, and improved patient satisfaction and HRQOL (p < 0.01). These effects were still significant at the 12-week follow-up assessment (p < 0.01). LES muscle activity in the PNF training group was significantly increased throughout the measurement periods compared with controls (p < 0.01).
  
  
  
  The study found that 4-week PNF training has positive long-term effects on pain-related outcomes, and increases lower back muscle activity in patients with CLBP.
authors: Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand.|Research Center of Back, Neck, Other Joint Pain and Human Performance, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
authors: Pattanasin
authors: P
authors: Areeudomwong
authors: Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand.
authors: Witchayut
authors: W
authors: Wongrat
authors: Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand.
authors: Nertnapa
authors: N
authors: Neammesri
authors: Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand.
authors: Thanaporn
authors: T
authors: Thongsakul
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D064131:Back Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises; D011788:Quality of Life
keywords: booklet; chronic low back pain; long-term effect; proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation; quality of life