Abstract

Objective: To determine the effects of routine physical therapy with and without lumbar mobilization in patients with grade I spondylolisthesis.
Methodology: This randomized clinical trial was conducted at University of Lahore teaching hospital, Lahore and included 93 patients with grade I spondylolisthesis. Both male and female patients and with age limit of 25-55 years were included. They were randomly allocated into two equal groups. Routine physical therapy treatment of lumbar stretching, strengthening exercises were given to group I. Group II received same routine physical therapy along with lumbar mobilization. Pain and disability scores were measured by numeric pain rating scale and oswestry disability index. Data were analyzed through SPSS version 21.
Results: Group-I mean score for pain measure at baseline was 9.33±.519 and Group-II was 9.34±.522. After intervention, they changed to 7.72±.807 and 3.74±1.11, respectively. Group-I mean score for disability measure at baseline was 36.52±5.521 and Group-II was 37.00±5.271. After intervention, they changed to 31.13±6.013 and 19.62±3.011, respectively.
Conclusion: Patients with grade I spondylolisthesis showed better response to lumbar mobilization with routine physical therapy rather than routine physical therapy alone. Lumbar mobilization could be included with the physical therapy as an extra approach to improve pain and functional outcomes.

Key words: Lumbar mobilization, routine physical therapy, spondylolisthesis