Mechanisms of muscle stretching exercises for reduction of low back pain: narrative review

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES : Stretching exercises are present in physical training and muscle rehabilitation programs. Within the context of rehabilitation of patients with low back pain (lombalgy), there is still a gap about the mechanisms that these exercises should reduce pain and disability in these patients. The aim of this study was to investigate what are the possible mechanisms through which muscle stretching exercise could reduce pain in individuals with chronic low back pain. CONTENTS : Pain in the lumbar region is one of the most disabling pains when it comes to limitations for daily functions, so it’s necessary to investigate alternatives that provide relief for these patients. As the cause of non-specific chronic low back pain is multifactorial, the treatment of the pathology occurs mainly to reduce the sensation of pain. As an alternative, the flexibility training through stretching exercises can be efficient because they generate biomechanical and sensory changes, which would result in an analgesic effect. Additionally, it’s still possible that these two effects occur together to explain the reduction in low back pain after performing stretching exercises. CONCLUSION : There is theoretical basis in the literature to support the performance of stretching exercises as a non-pharmacological strategy for the treatment of chronic low back pain.