To compare the effectiveness of an isokinetic exercise programme and flexion-extension exercise programme in patients with chronic mechanic low back pain.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of an isokinetic exercise programme and flexion-extension exercise programme in patients with chronic mechanic low back pain.Materials and Method: A total of 40 patients with chronic mechanic low back pain were included in the study. Patients were randomly allocatede into group 1(isokinetic exercise) and group 2(flexion-extension exercise). Before exercise both group treated with hot pack, TENS and ultrason. The patients in the isokinetic exercise group underwent a three-week lomber isokinetic exercise programme for five days a week on Biodex İsokinetic Dynamometer at 60º/sn and 90º/sn speed. Patients in the flexion-extension exercise group were subjected to a three-week exercise programme. Flexion-extension exercises were performed with a frequency of five days a week and 10 times once a day at the rehabilitation unit under a physiotherapist?s supervision. Patients evaluated with following assessment parameter at baseline, after the third week (at the end of the exercise programme) and after the three month. Pain was assessmented with visual analogue scale. For mobility finger-tip-floor, lumbar schober, modified lumbar schober, lumbar lateral flexion and total lumbar ROM were used. Flexion-extension isokinetic muscle strength evaluated with biodex isokinetic dynamometer at 60º/sn and 90º/sn speed. The Modified Oswestry Disability Questionnaire was used for functional evaluation.Results: Before study, isokinetic anda flexion-extension exercises groups showed no difference in demographic and clinic assessment parameter. After the study, both group demonstrated significant improvement in the pain (VAS), mobility (fingertip-to-floor, lumbar schober, modified lumbar schober, lumbar lateral flexion, total lumbar ROM) and functional status compared to the baseline, which persisted until the end of the third month. The peak torque and peak torque/body weight values also showed significant increases after the treatment, which persisted until the end of the third month. Comparison of both exercise groups in assessment parameters obtained at the end of the treatment and at third month after treatment showed no significant difference.Conclusion: Both isokinetic and flexion-extension exercises are effective on pain, mobility, lumbar muscle strength and functional disability in the patients of chronic mechanic low back pain and it was thought that isokinetic exercises don?t predominate to standard flexion-extension exercises application.