Comparative evaluation of the analgesic effectiveness of selected physiotherapeutic methods in the treatment of low back pain syndrome

Jolanta Kujawa, Iwona Pyszczek, Jan Talar, Mirosław Janiszewski

Jolanta Kujawa, Iwona Pyszczek, Jan Talar, Mirosław Janiszewski – Comparative evaluation of the analgesic effectiveness of selected physiotherapeutic methods in the treatment of low back pain syndrome. Fizjoterapia Polska 2001; 1(3); 271-279

Abstract

Background. Low back pain, especially lumbosacral syndrome, is the most frequently encountered pain syndrome in musculoskeletal diseases. In many countries the question of low back pain has become a social problem. The basic task of rehabilitation teams is to make the proper choice of effective physiotherapeutic method. The goal of this study was to evaluate the analgesic effectiveness of selected combined physiotherapeutic methods in patients with low back pain. The results were analyzed for statistically significant differences correlating with the application of particular physical methods.Material and methods. 450 randomly selected patients (319 females, 131 males), age 21-79 (average age 56,53 years +/- 15,34) treated for low back pain syndrome in the Department of Medical Rehabilitation at the Łódź-Śródmieście Municipal Clinic were surveyed. Patients were divided into two groups: Group A received laser biostimulation, while Group B received interferential current instead of laser therapy. All patients studied went through a uniform, typical program of therapeutic exercises.The effectiveness of this combined therapy was evaluated on the basis of subjective pain reported on the modified Laitinen pain questionnaire, taking into account intensity, frequency, use of analgesics and motor activity. A clinical examination was also performed. Results. The investigation indicated that both selected combined physiothearapeutic methods have a measurable analgesic effect in the treatment in low back pain. However, laser therapy applied in combination with therapeutic exercises proved to have greater therapeutic efficiency for such patients compared to interferential current with therapeutic exercises, and this difference was statistically significant.

Key words:
low power laser therapy, Low Back Pain, physiotherapy
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