Effect of Hamstring Exercise on the Level of Low Back Pain among Post Menopausal Women

Menopause is the process through which a woman ceases to be fertile or menstruate. It is a part of life and is not considered or condition symptoms may occur years before a women’s final period. Low back pain is a massive problem in modern populations, both in social and economic terms. It affects a larger number of women, especially those aged 45- 60. This study has been conducted to assess the effect of hamstring exercise on the level of low back pain among post menopausal women at selected Kudumbasree units in Thiruvananthapuram district. The objectives of the study were to assess the level of low back pain among post menopausal women and assess the effect of hamstring exercise on the level of low back pain among post menopausal women. The research design used was quasi experimental pretest post test control group design was used for the study, 60 samples were selected by purposive sampling technique. The samples low back pain was assessed using an oswestery disability index scale. The investigator explained and demonstrated about each and every step of the exercise to the subjects of the experimental group. Hamstring exercise such as Standing hamstring stretch, chair hamstring stretch, towel hamstring stretch, wall hamstring stretch was practiced by experimental group 30 minutes a day in a week for one month. No interventions were provided to control group. Post test was conducted for both experimental and control groups on the 31 St day. Finding of the study showed that that there is a significant improvement on the level of low back pain among postmenopausal women in the experimental group than in the control group after providing hamstring exercise. The t value is 21 which were greater than p value 2.05 at the level of 0.05 that is there is a significant improvement in the level of low back pain in the experimental group than in control group Hence it is revealed that administration of hamstring exercise was an effective intervention for relieving low back pain among post menopausal women. Hypothesis, there is a significant difference on the level of low back pain among post menopausal women in experimental and control group is accepted. Keywords: Effect, Hamstring exercise, Low back pain, Post menopausal women.