Effect of Ball and Balloon Blowing Exercises on Non Specific Low Back Pain among Undergraduate Students: A Prospective Interventional Study

Introduction: Non Specific Low Back Pain (NSLBP) is one of the most common musculoskeletal conditions globally, adversely affecting quality of life, and occurring without any identifiable cause. Among undergraduate students, the incidence of NSLBP is considerably high due to prolonged sitting during theory sessions and extended standing hours during clinical duties. Aim: To determine the effectiveness of ball and balloon blowing exercises on NSLBP among undergraduate students. Materials and Methods: The present prospective interventional study was conducted over a period of three months, from April 2022 to June 2022. Among 724 undergraduate students surveyed at Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangaluru, Karnataka, India using the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire, 70 participants were identified as having 0-40% non specific low back pain. These participants were randomly assigned to the control group (n=35) and the intervention group (n=35). Participants in the intervention group performed ball and balloon blowing exercises for 10 minutes twice daily for 21 days. Pain intensity was assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). Results: The majority of participants in both the intervention and control groups were 19-years-old and males. The paired t-test revealed a significant reduction (p<0.001) in pain scores in the intervention group between pretest and post-test 1, as well as between pretest and post-test 2. In contrast, no significant change was observed in the control group (p>0.05). These findings indicate that ball and balloon blowing exercises are effective in reducing non specific low back pain. Conclusion: Ball and balloon blowing exercises are an effective, non pharmacological intervention for reducing non specific low back pain.