Paulina Wójcik, Joanna Kałuża-Pawłowska, Patryk Kiljański, Marek Kiljański

P. Wójcik, J. Kałuża-Pawłowska, P. Kiljański, M. Kiljański
– Assessment of the effectiveness of therapy using TENS and interferential currents in patients with low back pain. Fizjoterapia Polska 2019; 19(1); 22-29

Abstract
Admission. Lower back pain is one of the most common problems associated with locomotor disorders. They are a serious medical problem, but also due to the prevalence of social and economic problems. Treatment of pain in the lower spine is a comprehensive treatment, includes kinesitherapy, physiotherapy and aims to reduce pain, inflammation and increased muscle tone.
Material and methods. The study involved a group of 60 people with pain in the lower spine. The subjects were divided into two equally 30-person groups. In both groups, physical treatments were used laser therapy and magnetotherapy. In addition, TENS was performed in the first group, while in the second group, interference currents were used. The study used a questionnaire, pain assessment on the VAS scale and the Schober test.
Objective. The aim of the study was to compare the effect of TENS currents and interference currents in terms of reducing pain and increasing the range of motion of the lower spine.
Results. The applied physical treatment had a positive effect on the patients’ condition. Statistical tests have shown a reduction in pain in patients and an improvement in the range of motion in the spine.
Conclusions. TENS currents are a more effective method in the treatment of lower back pain. The results of the research showed that the use of TENS currents allowed to obtain positive effects in the form of increasing the range of spinal mobility, all subjects in this group experienced a reduction in pain.

Key words:
lumbar spine, pain, TENS currents, interference currents