Comparative Study to Find Out the Efficacy of Manual Correction by McKenzie Technique and Therapeutic Exercise in Correcting Acute Lumbar Lateral Shift

Abstract

Background: Acute onset lumbar lateral shift, also known as a list or acute scoliosis, is a common clinical presentation associated with low back pain. Although the presence of a lateral shift has been associated with a poor prognosis for conservative management, therapeutic exercise and manual correction using the McKenzie technique have been reported to produce correction of the deformity and improvement in pain and spinal mobility. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of manual correction using the McKenzie technique combined with therapeutic exercise versus therapeutic exercise alone in correcting acute lumbar lateral shift. Materials and Methods: This experimental study was conducted on subjects diagnosed with scoliosis and presenting with acute lumbar lateral shift at the outpatient department of Vidyasagar Institute of Health, Rangamati, Paschim Midnapore, West Bengal. A total of 30 subjects aged 40–55 years were recruited and assigned into two groups of 15 subjects each. Group A received manual correction using the McKenzie technique along with therapeutic exercise, while Group B received therapeutic exercise alone. Cobb's angle and lumbar lateral flexion range of motion were assessed before treatment and after the treatment period. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23.0 and Microsoft Excel. Paired t-test was used for within-group comparisons and unpaired t-test for between-group comparisons. The level of significance was set at p<0.05. Results: Both groups showed statistically significant improvement following treatment. Cobb's angle decreased from 20.87±1.96° to 14.07±1.10° in Group A and from 21.60±2.03° to 12.67±1.29° in Group B. Right lateral flexion improved from 33.73±2.76° to 35.87±2.53° in Group A and from 34.27±1.98° to 37.87±2.00° in Group B. Left lateral flexion improved from 36.20±2.36° to 40.33±3.03° in Group A and from 36.00±2.00° to 40.33±2.03° in Group B. Between-group analysis showed a significant difference in post-treatment Cobb's angle (p=0.0034) and right lateral flexion (p=0.0231), while no significant difference was observed in left lateral flexion (p=1.000). Conclusion: Both manual correction using the McKenzie technique combined with therapeutic exercise and therapeutic exercise alone were effective in reducing Cobb's angle and improving lumbar lateral flexion in subjects with acute lumbar lateral shift. However, therapeutic exercise alone demonstrated greater improvement in Cobb's angle and right lateral flexion and may be considered a useful therapeutic approach for correction of acute lumbar lateral shift.

Keywords: Lateral Shift, McKenzie Technique, Therapeutic Exercise, Swiss Ball, Thera-Band, Self-Correction, Scoliosis