VISUAL BIOFEEDBACK BALANCE CONTROL TRAINING VS. KINESIOLOGY TAPING IN PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM SCIATICA

Low Back Pain (LBP) is commonly classified as civilization disease. Many authors assume that about 80% of the population over forty have at least one major episode of pain in the lumbar area. Many of those patients demonstrate lumbosacral radicular symptoms. Sciatica usually develop as a result of a disc-root conflict and can disturb patients posture and balance. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of the visual biofeedback balance control training in patients suffering from sciatica on posture and balance. This was a randomized clinical study with control group, single-blind. Sixty suffering from sciatica patients (54% females) in the age between 20 and 83 met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. In the experimental group (VBF) in addition to comprehensive rehabilitation, visual feedback balance training was used. In the control group (KT) except comprehensive rehabilitation the kinesiology taping was applied within the lumbar region. For outcome measure center of foot pressure deflection, execution time, Bohannon's standing one-leg test, distribution of limb loads, Functional Ambulatory Category, Timed Up and Go, lumbar spine mobility, Laségue symptom, neurological symptom examination and the Visual Analog Scale has been used. In results: visual feedback balance control training using the balance platform had a statistically significant impact on execution time, standing on one leg, spine mobility, gait, coordination and pain. Dynamic kinesiotaping had a statistically significant effect on COP sway, balance, gait, coordination and pain. Feedback balance control training was more beneficial than dynamic kinesiotaping, although not statistically significant. In the VBF group no statistically significant effects on COP sway and distribution of limb loads has been observed. No effects of gender, side of sciatica (left/right) nor BMI has been observed. Statistically significant effect of visual feedback balance control training was observed in both groups in the age below 55. No side effects have been noticed.