PREVALENCE OF LOW BACK ACHE AND PLANTAR HEEL PAIN AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS: A CROSS- SECTIONAL STUDY

Background and objectives: Low back pain is a highly disabling medical condition characterized by pain and discomfort localized to area between the costal margin and inferior gluteal folds, with or without leg pain. The present study aims to investigate the effectiveness of muscle energy technique on rectus femoris muscle to reduce pain and functional disability in patients with low back pain. Methods: 30 subjects those fulfilling the inclusion criteria were recruited for the study. Subjects were then allocated to two groups- Group A (Control group) and Group B (Experimental group). Subjects in group A received William’s Flexion exercises and subjects in group B received experimental treatment of muscle energy technique on rectus femoris and William’s flexion exercises. Pain and functional disability were measured using Numeric Pain Rating Scale and Oswestry Disability Index before and after the intervention period respectively. Results: the post test scores of NPRS and ODI of control and experimental group were analysed using two sample t test and paired t test. The data analysed showed statistically significant difference in the post test scores of NPRS and ODI of experimental group over control group at 5% significance level. Conclusion: The study concluded that muscle energy technique on rectus femoris is effective in reducing pain and functional disability in patients with low back pain.