[Case-control study on embracing knee and rolling lumbar training for preventing and treating degenerative...

To study therapeutic effects of embracing knee and rolling lumbar (EKRL) training on the pain and the function of lumbar of patients with degenerative osteoarthritis of lumbar spine.

From 2006.8 to 2008.1, 150 patients with degenerative osteoarthritis of lumbar spine were randomly divided into the control group, EKRL training group and the combined group. In the control group (n=50), there were 16 females and 34 males, the average age was (58.8 +/- 10.2) years and the average course of diseases was (16.3 +/- 14.9) months. In the EKRL training group (n=50), there were 13 females and 37 males, the average age was (60.1 +/- 8.2) years and the average course of disease was (17.1 +/- 15.3) months. In the combined group (n=50), there were 15 females and 35 males, the average ages was (59.9 +/- 11.4) years and the average course of diseases was (19.8 +/- 17.2) months. The patients in three groups were treated with Meloxicam tablets, EKRL training and two above methods combination respectively. After 3 weeks treatment, the curative effect, the visual analogous scores and the ODI indexes were observed. All the patients were followed up and the duration ranged from 6 to 24 months; the changes of average ODI indexes were observed monthly.

After 3 weeks treatment, the therapeutic effects in three groups had obvious difference after Ridit analyses: there were significant differences between the combined group and other two groups (P<0.01), but no obvious differences existed in other two groups. Compared with before treatment, the visual analogue scale scores and the ODI indexes in three groups reduced significantly (P<0.01). After treatment, the visual analogue scale scores and the ODI indexes of the combined group had significant differences compared with those of other two groups (P<0.01), but the ODI indexes of other two groups had no obvious differences. After 6 to 24 months following-up, the monthly changes of average ODI indexes of EKRL training and combined groups had obvious differences compared with that of the control group (P<0.01).

EKRL training is a simple, no expense and effective methods for preventing and treating degenerative osteoarthritis of lumbar spine.