Author: Elshiwi AM1, Hamada HA2, Mosaad D3, Ragab IMA4, Koura GM5, Alrawaili SM6
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>Department of Physical Therapy for Musculoskeletal Disorders and its Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
<sup>2</sup>Department of Biomechanics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. Electronic address: Hamada.Ahmed@pt.cu.edu.eg.
<sup>3</sup>Department of Basic Science, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
<sup>4</sup>Department of Physical Therapy for Musculoskeletal Disorders and its Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt.
<sup>5</sup>Department of Physical Therapy for Musculoskeletal Disorders and its Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; Department of Medical Rehabilitation, Faculty of Applied Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
<sup>6</sup>Department of Physical Therapy and Health Rehabilitation, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam, Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia.
Conference/Journal: Braz J Phys Ther.
Date published: 2018 Aug 21
Other:
Pages: S1413-3555(18)30026-1 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.bjpt.2018.08.004. [Epub ahead of print] , Word Count: 326
BACKGROUND: Further research on pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) effects on the different conditions of low back pain was warranted due to lack of studies in this area.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy with 50Hz frequency, with low intensity of 20Gauss compared to conventional non-invasive treatment modalities in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain.
METHODS: Design - A prospective, randomized, patient-blinded, controlled trial. Setting - The study was conducted at Outpatient Physiotherapy Clinic in Cairo, Egypt. The study was conducted between May 2015 and September 2016. Participants - Fifty participants with non-specific low back pain enrolled into experimental and control groups. Interventions - The experimental group received the Conventional physical therapy Protocol as well as magnetic field, while the control group received the same Conventional physical therapy and sham electromagnetic field. Both groups received 12 sessions over 4 weeks' period. Outcome measures - Primary outcome measures was pain intensity while the secondary outcome measures were disability and lumbar range of motion - ROM. There were no adverse events occurred during the study.
RESULTS: Fifty participants with non-specific low back pain (control group n=25; experimental group n=25) were randomized. There were significant between-group differences in pain scores (mean difference - MD 1.52; 95%CI -0.34 to 3.35), function disability (MD 8.14; 95%CI 6.5 to 9.96), Range of Motion (ROM) of lumbar flexion (MD -1.27; 95%CI -1.09 to -1.45), ROM of lumbar extension (MD -1.1; 95%CI -0.97 to -1.23), ROM of lumbar right side bending (MD 8.2; 95%CI 6.56 to 9.84) and ROM of lumbar left side bending (MD 10.4; 95%CI 8.81 to 11.99) in favour of the experimental group.
CONCLUSION: Adding pulsed electromagnetic field to Conventional physical therapy Protocol yields superior clinical improvement in pain, functional disability, and lumbar ROM in patients with non-specific low back pain than Conventional physical therapy alone.
Copyright © 2018 Associação Brasileira de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação em Fisioterapia. Publicado por Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS: Conventional physical therapy program; Non-specific low back pain; Pulsed electromagnetic field
PMID: 30177406 DOI: 10.1016/j.bjpt.2018.08.004