Short-Term Effects of Manual Therapy plus Capacitive and Resistive Electric Transfer Therapy in Individuals with Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial Study
Konstantinos Kasimis,
Paris Iakovidis,
Dimitrios Lytras,
Georgios Koutras,
Ioanna P. Chatziprodromidou,
Antonis Fetlis,
Stefania Rafailia Ntinou,
Natalia-Maria Keklikoglou,
Antigoni Samiotaki,
Georgios Chasapis,
Georgia Tarfali,
Thomas Apostolou
Affiliations
Konstantinos Kasimis
Laboratory of Biomechanics & Ergonomics, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University, Alexander Campus, P.O. Box 141, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece
Paris Iakovidis
Laboratory of Biomechanics & Ergonomics, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University, Alexander Campus, P.O. Box 141, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece
Dimitrios Lytras
Laboratory of Biomechanics & Ergonomics, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University, Alexander Campus, P.O. Box 141, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece
Georgios Koutras
Laboratory of Biomechanics & Ergonomics, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University, Alexander Campus, P.O. Box 141, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece
Ioanna P. Chatziprodromidou
Department of Public Health, Medical School, University of Patras, 26504 Patra, Greece
Antonis Fetlis
Laboratory of Biomechanics & Ergonomics, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University, Alexander Campus, P.O. Box 141, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece
Stefania Rafailia Ntinou
Laboratory of Biomechanics & Ergonomics, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University, Alexander Campus, P.O. Box 141, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece
Natalia-Maria Keklikoglou
Laboratory of Biomechanics & Ergonomics, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University, Alexander Campus, P.O. Box 141, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece
Antigoni Samiotaki
Laboratory of Biomechanics & Ergonomics, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University, Alexander Campus, P.O. Box 141, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece
Georgios Chasapis
Laboratory of Biomechanics & Ergonomics, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University, Alexander Campus, P.O. Box 141, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece
Georgia Tarfali
Biomedical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Strathclyde University, Glasgow G4 0NW, UK
Thomas Apostolou
Laboratory of Biomechanics & Ergonomics, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University, Alexander Campus, P.O. Box 141, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece
Background and Objectives: Chronic non-specific low back pain (CNSLBP) is defined as back pain that lasts longer than 12 weeks. Capacitive and resistive electric transfer (TECAR) therapy utilizes radiant energy to generate endogenous heat and is widely used for the treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of manual therapy (MT) program combined with TECAR therapy in individuals with CNSLBP. Materials and Methods: Sixty adults with CNSLBP were randomly divided equally into three groups. The first group followed an MT protocol in the lumbar region (MT group), the second group followed the same MT protocol combined with TECAR therapy (MT + TECAR group) using a conventional capacitive electrode as well as a special resistive electrode bracelet, and the third group (control group) received no treatment. Both intervention programs included six treatments over two weeks. Pain in the last 24 h with the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), functional ability with the Roland–Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), pressure pain threshold (PPT) in the lumbar region with pressure algometry, and mobility of the lumbo-pelvic region through fingertip-to-floor distance (FFD) test were evaluated before and after the intervention period with a one-month follow-up. Analysis of variance with repeated measures was applied. Results: In the NPRS score, both intervention groups showed statistically significant differences compared to the control group both during the second week and the one-month follow-up (p p p p p p p > 0.05). Conclusions: The application of an MT protocol with TECAR therapy appeared more effective than conventional MT as well as compared to the control group in reducing pain and disability and improving PPT in individuals with CNSLBP. No further improvement was noted in the mobility of the lumbo-pelvic region by adding TECAR to the MT intervention.
