Zusammenfassung

Does Isokinetic Trunk Muscle Exercise Alter the Complaints of Low Back Pain Patients? 24 patients (29 - 62 years) suffering of low back pain took part in a trunk muscle training on an isokinetic trunk muscle apparatus (CYBEX TOR). During 7 training sessions within 3 weeks an identical training program was applied. Each exercise lasted for about 20 minutes and included 8 - 15 repetitions at a velocity of 60, 90, 120 and 150 degrees/s respectively. During the exercise the muscle force was controlled and the patients were advised to work at a level of 70 p.c. of the maximum voluntary muscle force. At the beginning and at the end of the training cycle two identical tests of the maximum muscle strength and the muscle work were performed. There was measured a significant increase of the maximum muscular strength which ranged in the average from 10,7 p.c. (at 90 d./s) to 23,2 p.c. (at 60 d./s). A few patients showed an enormous improvement (up to 300 p.c) and some deteriorated (down to -42 p.c.) after 7 training sessions. So it has to be stated, that the maximum voluntary muscle strength will rise by isokinetic training, but the evaluation of the dates is not exact because many factors like motivation of the patients, pain and fatigue will interact. After the training cycle 9 patients reported a relief of low back pain, 13 felt stronger and 70 % of all patients thought to have a more stabilized spine.