The effects of active release technique on the gluteus medius for pain relief in persons with chronic low back pain

Objective: Low back pain is a primary of source of dysfunction and economic costs. Gluteus medius muscle co-activation and activity pattern change caused the low back pain. Active release technique (ART) is a patented, non-invasive, soft tissue treatment process that both locates and breaks down the scar tissue and adhesions. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects on chronic low back pain using ART on gluteus medius so that suggest usable treatment method for treating chronic low back pain. Design: One group pretest-posttest design. Methods: Twelve patients with chronic low back pain were participated in this study. Subjects in ART group were received 2 times a week for 3 weeks treatments with either ART on gluteus medius muscle trigger points. Outcome measures were conducted by pain intensity with a pain visual analogue scale and pressure pain threshold on gluteus medius. Results: Completion of the intervention, the visual analogue scale was decreased in ART group (p<0.05). Also pressure pain threshold was decreased in ART group (p<0.05). Conclusions: Our results suggest that the response to ART may be usable to treat low back pain. ART was presented to reduce pain level of low back in people with chronic low back pain. Further study is required to management for low back pain due to gluteus medius and more ART study.