Physical Treatments - Specific Physical Therapy

en The Impact of a 6-Week Massage Therapy Program on Pain, Flexibility and Quality of Life of Athletes with Lower Limb Amputation and Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain آسیب شناسی ورزشی و حرکات اصلاحی Sport injury and corrective exercises پژوهشي Research <div style="text-align: justify;">Purpose: Among athletic populations with lower extremity amputations, chronic non-specific low back pain (LBP) represents a prevalent complication that significantly impairs physical comfort, vertebral mobility, and overall well-being. To address this, manual therapy is often introduced as a conservative, non-drug restorative strategy. The primary objective of the current investigation was to evaluate how a structured 6-week massage intervention influences pain intensity, thoracolumbar flexibility, and health-related quality of life in amputee athletes suffering from persistent non-specific LBP. Methods: Utilizing a quasi-experimental design, volunteers were enrolled and allocated into either an un-treated control cohort (mean age: 35.53±9.28 years; BMI: 24.56±1.88kg/m2) or a treatment collective (mean age: 40.53±7.66 years; BMI: 23.19±2.30 kg/m2). Pre-intervention data collection encompassed clinical discomfort severity, lumbar spine flexibility, sleep metrics, and subjective well-being via the WHOQOL tool. Individuals in the intervention arm participated in three weekly massage sessions spanning six weeks, whereas the control cohort sustained their baseline habits. Final post-intervention profiles were recorded immediately after the final week. Statistical evaluations comprised paired-sample t-tests, ANCOVA, and non-parametric Wilcoxon/Mann-Whitney criteria, establishing significance at P<0.05. Results: Post-test indicators revealed substantial enhancements within the massaged cohort regarding lower back discomfort reduction (p=0.001), expanded trunk flexibility (p=0.001), and boosted quality of life scores (p≤0.01) relative to the control group. The data confirmed distinct inter-group variances favoring the active treatment arm upon trial completion. Conclusion: Implementing a 6-week manual soft-tissue manipulation program serves as a viable, productive approach to mitigate lumbosacral pain while simultaneously advancing daily physical capacity and health satisfaction in disabled athletes dealing with post-amputation spinal discomfort.</div> Chronic Low back pain, Massage therapy, Lower Limb Amputation, athletes, quality of life 0 0 http://ptj.uswr.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-519-3&slc_lang=en&sid=1 mojtaba babaei khorzoghi babaei@cc.iut.ac.ir 0000-0003-2735-5795 No Center of Physical Education, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran. abouzar saadatian a.saadatian@yu.ac.ir 0000-0003-3232-9727 Yes Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Literature and Human Sciences, University of Yasouj, Yasouj, Iran. azam saber tahan a.saber4890@gmail.com 0000-0001-6820-3750 No Department of Sport Injuries and Corrective Exercises, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan (Khorasgan Branch), Isfahan, Iran.