Low Back Pain
Conditions
Keywords
Low Back Pain,, Interferential Therapy, Quality of Life
Brief summary
Background: Chronic non-specific low back pain is defined as unknown mechanical musculoskeletal pain lasting more than 3 months. Electrotherapy is a non-pharmacologic, non-invasive and simple method back pain treatment that is mainly applied using interferential (IF) therapy. The current study was designed to investigate the effect of IF on pain, range of motion, and quality of life in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain. Materials and methods: 61 patients suffered from chronic non-specific low back pain (CNLBP) were randomly assigned to IF group (n=30) and placebo IF (n=31). The entire patient received suggested exercise 3 times per week for 4 weeks. The outcome measures were visual analogue scale (VAS), lumbar range of motion (ROM) in terms of flexion& extension and the Short Form-36 (SF-36) health questionnaire to evaluate the quality of life (QOL).
Detailed description
Participants The study was conducted in outpatient clinics in Cairo University Hospitals. 60 patients (29 males and 31 females) were invited to participate in the current study. Subjects were included in the study if they had LBP of at least three months duration and aged between 25 and 60 years. Patients with spinal pathology (tumor, nerve root, fracture, and compromise), cardiopulmonary conditions, pregnancy, and received physiotherapy in the last eight weeks or any contraindications to the use of electrotherapy were excluded.
Interventions
Exercise therapy
Sponsors
Cairo University
Ahlia University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
Each subject in both groups was positioned in prone lying and the area to be treated was exposed. The IF group which included 30 subjects received IF. The IF current was increased gradually according the subject's condition with comfortable tingling sensation.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
25 Years to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
\*Subjects were included in the study if they had LBP of at least three months duration \* Age between 25 and 60 years.
Exclusion criteria
* Patients with spinal pathology (tumor, nerve root, fracture, and compromise), * Cardiopulmonary conditions * Pregnancy, * Received physiotherapy in the last eight weeks * Any contraindications to the use of electrotherapy were excluded.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) | 6 months | The severity of pain was evaluated using a visual analogue scale (VAS). The participants were requested to put a line on the scale perpendicularly that matched to their pain intensity. VAS scores represent the pain intensity as none, mild, moderate, or severe. The accompanying cutoff was used for the pain scale: 0- 4 , no pain; 5- 44, mild pain; 45- 74, moderate pain; and 75-100, severe pain |
Countries
Egypt
Outcome results
None listed