Changes in the Muscle Tension of Erector Spinae after the Application of the McKenzie Method in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain

Objective: Validation of the effect of the McKenzie method in patients with lumbar spine discopathy. Our aim was to objectively record derangement, according to McKenzie, by monitoring the centralization phenomenon, the sensory and affective dimensions of pain, reduction in the level of disability, and reduction of tension in the erector spinae muscle by means of surface EMG during static activities, in patients with chronic low back pain. The tension of the erector spinae muscle was also measured in healthy individuals in order to compare this to the changes observed in patients with chronic low back pain. Sample: The research sample consisted of 31 patients with MRI diagnosed discopathy. The intervention group (Group 1) was treated with the McKenzie method alongside general physiotherapy. The control group consisted of healthy individuals (n=24) who didn’t receive any therapeutic intervention. Methods: The McGill Pain Questionnaire was used to measure the intensity and type of pain. The Roland Morris Questionnaire (RMQ) was used to measure the degree of disability. The Schuhfried Biofeedback 2000 x-pert 2 channel surface electromyography (EMG) was used to measure the tension of the erector spinae muscle, paravertebrally at the L4 level. The centralization phenomenon was evaluated by means of 4-degree scale. Results: The tension of erector spinae during static activities was found to be significantly lower (p Conclusion: An objective reduction of derangement was identified after 1 month and 3 months post treatment. This is based on the centralization phenomenon that occurred, as well as the reduction in the sensory and affective dimensions of pain, degree of disability and tone of erector spinae during static activities. Centralization leads to a continuous reduction in muscle tension. Dysfunction is an intermittent increase of muscle tone, and increases when the muscle is loaded e. g. in standing.