EFFETS DE LASSOCIATION DE LEXERCICE PHYSIQUE ET DU MASSAGE SUEDOIS SUR LA SCIATALGIE CHEZ LES FEMMES DE YAOUNDE (CAMEROUN)

Background: Sciatica is a common chronic musculoskeletal disorder among women in developing countries. However, management strategies for this condition in these regions are often inadequate.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a therapeutic programme combining Swedish massage and physical exercise on the symptoms of sciatica in women in the city of Yaounde in Cameroun.

Methodology : This was a cross-sectional study of 30 women suffering from sciatica. The women were divided equally into three groups. The first (G1) was made up of women who only took physical exercise, the second (G2) of those who only received Swedish massage sessions and the third (G3) of those who received both physical exercise and Swedish massage.

Results : The results show an overall decrease in anthropometric parameters. This decline was most marked in G3 (ΔG3 = -3.21%) and G1 (ΔG1 = -10.10%), for body mass and bone mass respectively. G2 showed the greatest reductions in water mass (ΔG2 = -16.97%), fat mass (ΔG2 = -21.19%) and muscle mass (ΔG2 = -8.76%). The results then show an overall improvement in pain parameters. This observation was more marked in G2, irrespective of the parameter considered. On the other hand, G1 showed the best result for pain at the present time (ΔG1 = -73.57%), while G2 showed the greatest improvements for usual pain (ΔG3 = -52.24%) and most intense pain (ΔG3 = -64.06%). Finally, the results indicate an overall reduction in the consequences of pain. This reduction was more marked in G2, but G3 showed the best results in terms of social relationships.

Conclusion : In conclusion, physical exercise and Swedish massage promoted remission of most of the symptoms of sciatica in the subjects studied, especially when these two methods were combined.