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 46 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 12 sessions over the course of 4 weeks, 3 sessions per week. After 4 weeks of therapy, both groups were evaluated again. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS 21. Results: Findings revealed that within-group differences were statistically significant (P<0.05) for all variables. In the primal reflex release technique group, the average NPRS value reduced from 5.565±1.4086 to 1.7391±1.09617, the average DPQ value from 129.967±33.102 to 38.000±26.691 and the average PFSD duration increased from 43.043±20.323 to 368.478±160.464. In the stretching group, NPRS reduced from 6.087±1.345 to 3.695±1.490, DPQ from 116.032±35.054 to 60.608±22.186 and PFSD increased from 28.260±11.928 to 94.130±102.154. The between-group analysis also indicated statistically significant differences in NPRS, DPQ, and pain-free sitting duration with P values ≤0.001, 0.003, and ≤0.001, 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.