Effect of Active Release Technique versus Positional Release Therapy on Pain, Range of Motion and Functional Disability in Patients with Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain

Abstract

Background: Chronic non-specific low back pain (CNLBP) is a common musculoskeletal condition associated with pain, restricted lumbar mobility and functional disability. Active Release Technique (ART) and Positional Release Therapy (PRT) are manual therapy approaches used to address soft-tissue dysfunction and improve mobility.

Objective: To determine and compare the effects of ART and PRT on pain, lumbar range of motion and functional disability in patients with CNLBP.

Methods: A comparative study included 40 participants aged 25–60 years with low back pain of 12 weeks duration. Participants were divided equally into Group A (ART; n=20) and Group B (PRT; n=20) using simple random sampling. Treatment was provided for 40 minutes per session, three sessions per week for four weeks (12 sessions). Pain, lumbar range of motion and functional disability were assessed using the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Modified Modified Schober Test (MMST) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), respectively. Data were analyzed using paired and independent t-tests after assessment of normality with the Shapiro–Wilk test; significance was set at p<0.05.

Results: Both groups demonstrated statistically significant pre- to post-intervention improvement in all three outcomes (p≤0.05). Between-group pre-test differences were not significant. At post-test, Group A showed lower NPRS (2.50±1.00 vs 4.10±0.967; p=0.001), higher MMST (4.66±0.430 vs 3.95±0.351; p=0.001), and lower ODI (37.90±7.18 vs 46.80±8.69; p=0.001) than Group B.

Conclusion: Both ART and PRT improved pain, lumbar mobility and functional disability in patients with CNLBP. Based on the reported post-test comparisons, ART produced superior outcomes to PRT over the four-week intervention period.