The Pilot Study

Title: Pilot study of the ResisTrac impact on spine pain, regional spine

discomfort, and erector spinae flexion-relaxation phenomenon

Abstract

Objective: The study purpose was to assess the impact of the ResisTrac

on relieving spine pain, regional spine discomfort, and altering erector

spinae muscle activity patterns.

Methods: Sixty college students completed a Nordic Musculoskeletal

Questionnaire (NMQ) instrument, Numeric pain Rating Scale (NRS) for

low back pain, and Flexion-Relaxation Phenomenon (FRP) test at baseline

and again at post-test. The study was composed of 4 compared groups

with 15 participants per group: experimental group- possessed low back

pain and used the ResisTrac device between tests, control #1- possessed

low back pain and used no device between tests, control #2- no low back

pain and used the ResisTrac device between tests, and control #3- no low

back pain and used no device between tests.

The ResisTrac exercises consisted of having participants perform

horizontal squats for 8 minutes using 2 bungee cord resistance bands on

the sliding traction table.

Results: Spine pain decreased from 2.8+0.7 to 2.1+0.6 (p=0.003) in the

experimental group. Additionally, the lower back specific component of the

NMQ decreased from 3.3+0.6 to 1.7+0.6 (p=0.000). Control #1 did not

demonstrate statistically significant changes throughout the study. Erector

spinae FRP profile marginally improvemed after use of the device in the

experimental group as well.

Conclusions: Individuals with low back pain that used the ResisTrac

device demonstrated improvements in spine pain, regional spine

discomfort, and marginally improved their erector spine muscle activity

patterns.

MeSH Key words: Low Back Pain; Patient Outcome Assessment;

Ergonomics; Self-Help Device