Cardiopulmonary adaptation to 6-weeks skin traction and isometric exercise among Nigerian subjects with lumbar spondylosis

Abstract

Traction is widely use for the treatment of spinal conditions in orthopaedics, but its effects on pain relief and cardiopulmonary functions has not fully been investigated. The purpose of this study was to determine the cardiopulmonary adaptation to 6- weeks skin traction and isometric exercise in patients presenting with lumbar spondylosis. The study was a pretest-posttest experimental design. A total of 27 subjects (21 males and 6 females) clinically diagnosed with lumbar spondylosis were recruited for the study. Subjects received skin traction 5 kg on each lower limb with the 'head' of the bed lowered by five degree and isometric exercise for a period of 6 weeks. Subjects' pre and post treatment systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), pulse rate (PR), vital capacity (VC), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and pain level was assessed, while the collected data was analysed using students' t-test. Findings of the study revealed significant difference in DBP, PR, VC, PEFR (p < 0.05), but no significant difference in SBP (p > 0.05). 6-weeks skin traction resulted in a significant change in DBP, PR, VC and PEFR in patients with chronic lumbar spondylosis.

Keywords: Skin traction, isometric exercise, lumbar spondylosis, cardiopulmonary functions.