ABSTRACT
Fifty patients presenting with chronic low back pain [LBP] were divided randomly into two groups: Group I including 25 patients treated by laser therapy [12 sessions in 4 weeks], Group II including 25 patients treated by corticosteroid injections of apophyseal [facet] joints [3 injections, once weekly]. Patient's disability pain severity tenderness on palpation and lumbar mobility were assessed at study entry [baseline], at end of and one month after treatment. Patient perception of benefit was also evaluated at end of and one month after treatment. In group I, there was a highly significant improvement [p < 0.001] in disability, pain, and tenderness at the end of treatment as compared to baseline. However these improvements tended to decrease at one month after treatment. It was also found that there was no significant improvement in lumbar mobility at any time compared with baseline. While in-group II, at end of treatment, there were highly significant improvements [p < 0.001] in disability, pain and tenderness and significant improvement [p < 0.05] in lumbar mobility compared with baseline. These improvements were maintained up to one month after treatment. Regarding patient perception of benefit, there was no significant difference between the two groups at end of treatment, but group II had better results with significant difference compared with group I at one month after treatment No significant hazards were reported by patients in both groups. For rehabilitation of patients with chronic LBP, local corticosteroid injections of facet joints is better than laser therapy because laser therapy produces limited improvements which tend to lessen with time