The Role of Electric Field Therapeutic Device (HEALTHTRON) in The Therapy of Acute Low Back Pain / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

Thirty-one outpatients with acute low back pain were all educated about activities of daily living. They also received spinal manipulation and SSP (TENS), and took NSAID for a certain period of time. Half of them were additionally exposed an electric field using HEAL THTRON, an electric field therapeutic decice, in order to analyze its efficacy.<br>The patients were randomly divided (non-blind test) into two groups. Those who received ordinary treatment were called the Non-HEALTHTRON group (NH-group); those who received HEALTHTRON treatment in addition to ordinary treatment were called the HEALTHTRON Treatment group (H-group). During the 15-day study period, the patients were subjected to a total of four electric field exposures using HEALTHTRON. Efficacy of the treatment was measured as an objective evaluation by measuring range of motion (ROM) using an inclinometer, and Peak torque and Total work using a dynamometer. A subjective evaluation was performed using the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire, ADL pain questionnaire, Visual analog scale for Patient global assessment, VAS (Patient) and Visual analog scale for Physician global assessment, VAS (Physician). After ordinary treatment, significant improvement was found in all 31 patients with acute low back pain. The VAS (Physician), ADL pain questionnaire and ROM were more significantly improved in the H-group than in the NH-group.