Abstract
Background: Home-based therapy optimizing biomechanics and neuromuscular control is increasingly recognized as a treatment option for chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNSLBP). However, its impact on pain, function, and gait is limited among patients in a metropolitan area.
Objective: To evaluate the change of pain, function, and gait parameters with home-based therapy with the use of footwear-generated biomechanical manipulation and perturbation training in a population with CNSLBP in a metropolitan area.
Design: Prospective observational study.
Setting: Outpatient rehabilitation clinic at an academic teaching hospital.
Participants: One hundred sixteen patients with CNSLBP for more than 6 months.
Intervention: Six months of home-based therapy with a biomechanical device using 4 modular elements attached to a foot-worn platform.
Main Outcome Measures: Instrumental gait analysis (gait velocity, step length, single limb support phase % of gait cycle), Numeric Rating Scale for pain, and Oswestry Disability Questionnaire Index for pain and function.
Results: Only 43 patients (37.1%) completed the study. Among 43 patients, mean gait velocity increased from 86.6 +/- 20.7 to 99.7 +/- 22.1 cm/s (P < .0001) in 6 months. Mean left step length increased from 51.1 +/- 8.4 to 54.8 +/- 9.8 cm (P < .0001). Mean right step length increased from 51.0 +/- 7.9 to 55.4 +/- 9.0 cm (P < .0001). Mean single limb support increased from 36.4 +/- 2.8 to 37.2 +/- 2.5%, (P = .208) in the right side and from 36.6 +/- 3.0 to 37.8 +/- 4.4%, (P = .019) in the left side. Median Oswestry Disability Questionnaire Index score improved from 28 (18-44; interquartile range) to 17 (10-35) (P = .045). Mean Numeric Rating Scale for back pain improved from 7.7 +/- 1.8 to 3.3 +/- 3.1 (P < .0001).
Conclusion: At 6 months, patients with CNSLBP undergoing home-based therapy with footwear-generated biomechanical manipulation and perturbation training demonstrated significant improvement of objective gait parameters, pain, and function.
