The Effects of Soft Tissue Lengthening Methods on Pain and Functional Changes in Patients with Low Back Pain

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of active and passive soft tissue mobilization and active stretching on pain, functional disability, and flexibility in patients with nonspecific low back pain (NS-LBP). Specifically, it compared the effectiveness of these interventions when applied to the hamstring muscles. Design: A randomized controlled trial Methods: A total of 45 participants (mean age: 23.03±3.90 years) with NS-LBP were randomly assigned into three groups: active soft tissue mobilization (ASM) group (n＝15), passive soft tissue mobilization (PSM) group (n＝15), and hamstring active stretching (AS) group (n＝15). The interventions were conducted for 20 minutes, three times a week, for four weeks. Outcome measures included pain assessed by the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), functional disability measured by the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and flexibility assessed using the Sit and Reach Test and Passive Straight Leg Raise (PSLR) test. Results: The ASM group showed a significant reduction in NPRS scores (p<0.01) and ODI scores (p<0.01) compared to the PSM and AS groups. The ASM group also demonstrated significant improvements in flexibility in both the Sit and Reach Test (p<0.01) and PSLR test (p<0.01) compared to the other groups. Conclusions: Active soft tissue mobilization was more effective than passive soft tissue mobilization and active stretching in reducing pain, improving functional disability, and enhancing flexibility in patients with NS-LBP. These findings suggest that active interventions should be prioritized for managing NS-LBP.