Role of pulsed electromagnetic therapy in the management of backache: a study conducted at armed forces institute of rehabilitation medicine, Rawalpindi

ABSTRACT

To determine the role of pulsed electromagnetic therapy in providing pain relief for backache. This was a quasi experimental study. This study was conducted at Armed Forces Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, Rawalpindi, Pakistan from Jan 2012 to June 2012. This study included 65 consecutive patients with backache. The pain was assessed on 11 points [0-10] Numeric Rating Scale [NRS] and patients with score >1 were included in the study. Detailed history was obtained and examination was performed. All patients were subjected to pulsed electromagnetic therapy. The pain was assessed at first week, 2nd week, third week and six week after start of the pulsed electromagnetic therapy. Data was compiled and analysed using SPSS version 17. A p-value < 0.05 was considered as significant. There was marked reduction in pain of patients with backache after treatment with pulsed electromagnetic therapy. Reduction in pain as calculated by the NRS [numeric rating scale] value after 1[st] week was 25.35% [p=0.002], after 2[nd] week was 43.66% [p=0.001], after 3[rd] week was 50.7% [p=0.001] and after 6 weeks was 71.83%[p=0.001]. Pulsed electromagnetic therapy is very effective in relieving pain in patients with backache