Effect of Interferential l Therapy on Low Back Pain ([PTREC])

Effect of Interferential Therapy on Pain, Range of Motion and Quality of Life in Patients With Chronic Non-specific Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

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).

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.

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.

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

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.