RESUMO
Objective: To compare the effects of high-intensity laser therapy [HILT] and a combination of transcutaneous nerve stimulation [TENS] with ultrasound [US] therapy on pain and functionality in patients with chronic lumbar radiculopathy
Methods: This prospective randomized comparative study was conducted in Department of physical medicine and rehabilitation, Turgut Ozal Medicine Center, Malatya, Turkey from April 2016 to September 2016. A total of 54 patients with chronic lumbar radiculopathy were enrolled in this study. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: Group 1 [n:27] received 10 sessions of a combination of hot pack, TENS, US and exercise, and Group 2 [n:27] received hot pack, HILT and exercise. The outcomes measured were low back with unilateral leg pain level measured by visual analog scale [VAS] and functionality measured with the Oswestry Disability Index [ODI] at the end of the therapy and four weeks later. p-value less than 0.05 considered statistically significant
Results: In two groups, VAS [low back with unilateral leg pain] and ODI scores showed significant changes. At the end of the 2 weeks intervention, participants in Group-1 showed a significantly greater decrease in pain than participants in Group-2. Statistically significant differences in pain variation and functionality [VAS and ODI] were observed four weeks after treatment sessions for participants in the TENS+US therapy group compared with participants in the HILT group
Conclusion: HILT and TENS+US combined with exercise were effective treatment modalities in decreasing the VAS and ODI scores. TENS+US combined with exercises were more effective than HILT combined with exercise