Acute Effects of Using Ricebag on Hip Range of Motion Among Backache Patients

Abstract

Chronic back pain is a common injury in almost all age groups. Thermal therapy has been found to give beneficial effects for chronic injury. Since ricebags were found to hold heat better, it could be a good therapy modality for treating chronic back pain injury. The objectives of this study were to (1) determine the differences in temperature between the ricebags and the skin interface and (2) determine the effects of ricebags on the trunk and hip range of motion. To achieve the objectives of this study, two statistical analysis procedures were used. The analysis was conducted with the repeated-measure ANOVA and also the independent t test. A total of 40 subjects from Tuanku Mizan Military Hospital were recruited using the purposing sampling technique. Their mean age was 34.65 (±9.622) years with a mean weight of 72.23 (±11.44) kg. The results showed a significant difference in temperature between the ricebag and the hydrocullator (p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in temperature of the skin interface between the ricebag and the hydrocullator (p = 0.732). On the other hand, although there was improvement in trunk and hip range of motions, there was no significant difference found in trunk and hip range of motions for both groups. Hence, both the ricebag and hydrocullator gave the same effect on skin interface and on trunk and hip range of motions in the patients. Thus, the ricebag can be used as an alternative in chronic back pain management.