Marklyft som behandling mot långvarig ländryggsmärta
en Single Subject Experimental Design
Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a common disorder in the western world. A majority of those afflicted by a first acute episode is at high risk of developing sub-acute or persistent symptoms. Persistent LBP can be caused by pathological changes in the discs and disturbed neuromuscular activation, which can cause hypotrophy of the extensors strong type-2 muscle fibres. Deadlift (DL) is an exercise that may correct all these pathological transformations. Aim: To investigate the effect of DL-training on patients with persistent LBP. Method: A Single Subject Experimental Design (SSED), where the approach was an AB-design with multiple baselines and a control variable. Subjects: Two physically active men, one with discogenic and one with arthrogenic LBP, and one sedentary man with discogenic LBP. Results: DL-training was positive for the two discogenic patients, regarding pain and disability, but the exercise did not affect general health. For the arthrogenic patient DL-training did not seem to have any effect. Conclusion: From the findings of this study, the authors hypothesize that DL-training is a successful treatment for LBP of discogenic origin.