Mr Bailey has completed his study into low back pain which began in 2003. He has completed a randomised controlled trial comparing the effect of specialised stabilising exercises with conventional physiotherapy. “This is the first study ever to have been completed using these exercises on this population,” he said. “I studied two randomised groups, one receiving specialist assessment and stabilising exercises, the other conventional physiotherapy. I used outcome tools to assess pain, depression, anxiety and function.”
Mr Bailey is one of three physiotherapists in the UK using diagnostic ultrasound scanning to assess the spinal musculature. He also used this to assess the effect of the exercises on the spinal musculature. “The assessment and implementation of the exercises requires specialist knowledge and skills. The study agreed with similar studies in other populations. There was a tendency towards significant improvements in pain, anxiety and function in the specialist stabilising group. There was a significant improvement in the specialist stabilising group for depression.” said Mr Bailey.
He added “In essence low back pain patients are often complicated – biologically, psychologically and sociologically. This study shows that they respond better to specialist treatment. The problem is that this requires specialist knowledge and skills. This is not widely available.” If you wish to read more information regarding the study or discuss it further, then please do not hesitate to contact us.
