Comparing Primal Reflex Release Technique and Stretching Exercises on Pain and Function in Coccydynia

Objectives: This study aims to find and compare the effects of primal reflex release technique and stretching exercises on pain intensity, functional performance, and pain-free sitting duration in patients with coccydynia. Methods: This is a randomized clinical trial. A total of ۴۶ individuals were chosen for the sample based on the inclusion criteria, and they were divided into groups A and B. Pre-treatment values of patients for pain assessment were taken by the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Dallas Pain Questionnaire (DPQ), and pain-free sitting duration (PFSD). Group A received treatment with a hot pack and primal reflex release technique. Group B received treatment with a hot pack and stretching exercises. Each patient received a total of ۱۲ sessions over the course of ۴ weeks, ۳ sessions per week. After ۴ weeks of therapy, both groups were evaluated again. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS ۲۱. Results: Findings revealed that within-group differences were statistically significant (P<۰.۰۵) for all variables. In the primal reflex release technique group, the average NPRS value reduced from ۵.۵۶۵±۱.۴۰۸۶ to ۱.۷۳۹۱±۱.۰۹۶۱۷, the average DPQ value from ۱۲۹.۹۶۷±۳۳.۱۰۲ to ۳۸.۰۰۰±۲۶.۶۹۱ and the average PFSD duration increased from ۴۳.۰۴۳±۲۰.۳۲۳ to ۳۶۸.۴۷۸±۱۶۰.۴۶۴. In the stretching group, NPRS reduced from ۶.۰۸۷±۱.۳۴۵ to ۳.۶۹۵±۱.۴۹۰, DPQ from ۱۱۶.۰۳۲±۳۵.۰۵۴ to ۶۰.۶۰۸±۲۲.۱۸۶ and PFSD increased from ۲۸.۲۶۰±۱۱.۹۲۸ to ۹۴.۱۳۰±۱۰۲.۱۵۴. The between-group analysis also indicated statistically significant differences in NPRS, DPQ, and pain-free sitting duration with P values ≤۰.۰۰۱, ۰.۰۰۳, and ≤۰.۰۰۱, respectively Discussion: The study concluded that both the primal reflex release technique and stretching exercises were effective in reducing pain and improving functional status with a marked increase in pain-free sitting duration. However, the primal reflex release technique was found to be more useful than stretching exercises in terms of mentioned outcome measures on basis of their mean differences.