Radiating Pain and Postural Balance with Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment in Patients with Lumbosacral Radiculopathy

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) treatment on pain and balance in patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy.METHOD: This study included twenty-five patients who were diagnosed with chronic lumbosacral radiculopathy. They underwent PRF treatment in prone position under the fluoroscopic guidance. The effect of PRF was measured by the visual analog score (VAS). Patient ability to balance was evaluated by using the Tetra-ataxiometric posturography (Tetrax).RESULTS: After PRF all patients showed improvement in pain as measured by VAS (p < 0.001) and none of the patients reported any side effects. The posturographic balance, which was evaluated by Tetrax showed no significant decline after PRF treatment. The weight distribution index (WDI) with eyes open before treatment was 5.43 ± 2.88 and after treatment was 5.37 ± 2.65 (p=0.917). The mean stability index (SI) with eyes open before treatment was 16.52 ± 6.05 and after treatment was 16.61 ± 4.85 (p=0.906). The mean WDI with eyes closed before treatment was 5.66 ± 2.81 and after treatment was 5.16 ± 2.70 (p=0.470). Finally, the mean SI with eyes closed before was 25.88 ± 9.88 and after treatment was 25.99 ± 12.30 (p=0.962).CONCLUSION: The results suggest that PRF has an effect on pain in patients with chronic lumbosacral radiculopathy. The patients did not experience adverse effects, such as hypoesthesia, dysesthesia and decreased proprioception after PRF, and there were no significant declines in balance.

Effect of Tetrax Balance Test and Exercise on Balance Function of Stroke Patients with Hemiplegia / 中国康复理论与实践

@#ObjectiveTo study the effect of Tetrax balance test and exercise on the balance function of stroke patients with hemiplegia. Methods50 stroke patients with hemiplegia and with disorder of balance function were divided into treatment group (25 cases) and control group (25 cases). The patients in both groups received regularly rehabilitation train and medical therapy. The treatment group was given balance train and motor function train responded to the analysis of the Tetrax balance assessment as well. They were evaluated with Berg balance scale, motor function of lower extreme in Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) and activities of daily living (ADL) before and 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks after treatment respectively. ResultsThere was no difference in balance function and motor function of lower extreme and ADL between treatment group and control group before treatment (P>0.05), but 4 week, 8 week, 12 week after treatment, there were significant improvement for balance function and motor function of lower extreme in both groups (P<0.01), and the treatment group improved more significantly than those of control group (P<0.05).ConclusionTexrax balance assessment can help understand the obstacle in balance function and formulate more suitable rehabilitation treatment.