Comparison of Muscle Energy Techniques and Myofascial Release on Low Back Pain Due to Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction

Sacroiliac joint is the most common source of low back pain affecting 70-85% of adults. Accordingly, 13-30% of patients with lower back pain have Sacroiliac joint dysfunction. The main mechanism for developing sacroiliac joint dysfunction includes different unidirectional pelvic shear force along with repetitive torsional force and inflammation which produces not only the lower back pain but also groin and gluteal pain. Muscle imbalances has also been sighted as possible cause of pain. This theory states that the sacroiliac joint itself is unaffected, but the musculature surrounding the sacroiliac joint is in form of dysfunction. This muscular imbalance could limit the flexibility of muscle of low back pain and ultimately begin a syndrome of chronic disuse culminating in decreased function and heightened pain. The use of a combination of tests showed a high sensitivity and specificity to indicate the presence of sacroiliac joint dysfunction that includes FABER, posterior shear and resisted abduction pain provocation tests.

Treatment of sacroiliac joint pain is variable and no set method or protocol of treatment has been found to be efficacious and reliable. Interventions to treat pain of SIJ dysfunction includes Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs), physical therapy, corticosteroid injections, osteopathic manipulations(manual medicine), radiofrequency denervation, sacroiliac joint belts and surgery. Muscle Energy Techniques is the most commonly used manual medicine techniques that depends on method of using low amplitude muscle contractions against resistance thinking that it would improve vascular circulation and have a positive influence on static and dynamic posture. this techniques was further modified by having patients use their muscles in a controlled position against a counterforce. Muscle energy techniques have several uses that can help increase muscle strength, increase range of motion(ROM) and decrease edema.

Myofascial release techniques(MFR) are another manual medicine technique that is described as 'designed to stretch and reflexively release patterned soft tissue( particularly the muscles and fascia) and joint related restrictions'. myofascial abnormalities may lead to connective tissue fibrosis, increased tissue stiffness and further movement impairment which may lead to low back pain chronicity.

In a study conducted by D. Sharma et al in 2014 on comparing the effects of muscle energy techniques and mobilizations in treating sacroiliac joint dysfunction focusing on piriformis, quadratus lumborum and erector spinae muscles, concluded that METs and mobilizations are both effective in treating chronic low back pain due to sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Outcomes were measured on first day and then after 1st and 2nd week from each subject, pain and disability by Visual Analogue Scale and Modified Oswestry Disability Index Questionnaire(MODI) In a randomized controlled trial conducted by Arguisuelas et al in 2017 for studying the effects of Myofascial release (MFR) for quadratus lumborum, psoas muscle, thoracolumbar fascia and lumbar paravertebral muscles in Non-specific chronic low back pain , it was concluded that myofascial release therapy produced a significant improvement in both pain and disability. Pain was measured by means of Short Form Mc Gill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) and Visual Analogue scale and disability measured with Roland Morris Questionnaire.

In another study conducted by Sabah et al in 2019 concluded that muscle energy techniques for iliopsoas, hamstrings, erector spinae and quadratus lumborum is an effective treatment for decreasing anterior pelvic tilting angle and reducing pain in patients with chronic SIJ dysfunction. The study findings revealed a statistical significant decrease of anterior pelvic tilting angle in group A(p<0.001), also a significant decrease in pain in the 2 groups compared with the pre-intervention values(p<0.001) In 2020, Faryal et al conducted a study in peshawar, concluded that muscle energy technique targeting quadratus lumborum, iliopsoas and piriformis muscle and maitland mobilizations are both effective in treating the chronic sacroiliac joint dysfunction in terms of decreasing pain and disability when using lumbopelvic stabilization exercises as an adjunct therapy with them.

In previous studies both muscle energy techniques and myofascial release therapy has been proven to be effective in treating chronic low back pain due to sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Currently to our knowledge there exists very weak evidence to which one technique can be proved to be more effective than the other. The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of both these therapies on pain and functional status in patients with sacroiliac joint dysfunction in addition to conventional physical therapy treatment protocols.