Rani Hubli, Apeksha Hungund
Introduction: Non Specific Low Back Pain (NSLBP) is the most common form of LBP and is often associated with mechanical and postural factors. Disrupted soft-tissue tension, particularly in the hamstrings and lumbar myofascial system, affects lumbar mechanics. Myofascial Release Therapy (MFRT) has shown improvement in pain and disability; however, evidence for three-dimensional MFRT (3D MFRT), which addresses fascial restrictions across multiple planes, remains scarce. Aim: To determine the effect of 3D MFRT on pain, lumbar Range Of Motion (ROM), lumbar spinal curvature and functional disability in individuals with NSLBP. Materials and Methods: This randomised controlled trial was conducted at the Department of Orthopaedic Manual Therapy, KLE Institute of Physiotherapy, Belagavi, Karnataka, India, from October 2024 to March 2025. A total of 36 participants with NSLBP were randomly assigned to an intervention group (Group-A) that received 3D MFRT plus conventional therapy (n=18) or a control group (Group-B) that received conventional therapy alone (n=18). Both groups underwent six treatment sessions over two weeks, on alternate days. Pain intensity {Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)}, lumbar ROM {Modified-Modified Schober’s Test (MMST)}, lumbar lordosis angle (flexicurve) and disability (Oswestry Disability Index) were recorded at baseline and after the sixth session. Between-group comparisons were used to determine treatment effects. Results: Baseline comparisons showed no significant differences in demographics or outcome measures between groups. Postintervention, the intervention group demonstrated significant improvements (p<0.05) in spinal curvature (Flexicurve), lumbar ROM, pain intensity and disability index compared to the control group. Effect sizes ranged from moderate to large. Conclusion: The present study supports 3D MFRT as an effective adjunct to conventional therapy for NSLBP in improving pain, mobility and function.