Regression of lumbar disc herniation by physiotherapy. Does non-surgical spinal decompression therapy make a difference? Double-blind randomized controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether Non-invasive Spinal Decompression Therapy (NSDT) combined with massage and other physiotherapy methods improved outcomes in patients with lumbar disc herniation.
Results Summary
Both study and control groups showed improvements in pain, function, and herniation thickness, but NSDT did not demonstrate significant superiority over standard physiotherapy alone.
Population
Twenty patients with lumbar disc herniation and pain lasting at least 8 weeks.
Effective Dosage
Fifteen sessions of combined electrotherapy, deep friction massage, and stabilization exercise.
Duration
Three months (including follow-up).
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Non-invasive Spinal Decompression Therapy (NSDT) | decrease | herniation resorption | patients with lumbar disc herniation (LHNP) | - | was effective in resorption of herniation | #1 |
Non-invasive Spinal Decompression Therapy (NSDT) | increase | disc height | patients with lumbar disc herniation (LHNP) | - | was effective in increasing disc height | #2 |
combination of electrotherapy, deep friction massage and stabilization exercise | decrease | pain | patients diagnosed as LHNP and suffering from pain at least 8 weeks | - | had positive effect for improving pain | #3 |
combination of electrotherapy, deep friction massage and stabilization exercise | increase | functional restoration | patients diagnosed as LHNP and suffering from pain at least 8 weeks | - | had positive effect for functional restoration | #4 |
combination of electrotherapy, deep friction massage and stabilization exercise | decrease | thickness of herniation | patients diagnosed as LHNP and suffering from pain at least 8 weeks | - | had positive effect for reduction in thickness of herniation | #5 |
Non-invasive Spinal Decompression Therapy (NSDT) | decrease | herniation size | study group (SG) | - | reduction of herniation size was higher | #6 |
Non-invasive Spinal Decompression Therapy (NSDT) | no change | herniation size reduction | study group (SG) vs control group (CG) | - | no significant differences were found between groups and any superiority to each other | #7 |
physiotherapy | increase | clinical and radiologic evidence | patients with LHNP | - | had improvement based on clinical and radiologic evidence | #8 |
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study determining whether or not Non-invasive Spinal Decompression Therapy (NSDT) was effective in resorption of herniation, increasing disc height in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LHNP). METHODS: A total of twenty patients diagnosed as LHNP and suffering from pain at least 8 weeks were enrolled to the study. Patients were allocated in study (SG) and control groups (CG) randomly. Both groups received combination of electrotherapy, deep friction massage and stabilization exercise for fifteen session. SG received additionally NSDT different from CG. Numeric Anolog Scale, Straight leg raise test, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were applied at baseline and after treatment. Disc height and herniation thickness were measured on Magnetic Resonance Imagination which performed at baseline and three months after therapy. RESULTS: Both treatments had positive effect for improving pain, functional restoration and reduction in thickness of herniation. Although reduction of herniation size was higher in SG than CG, no significant differences were found between groups and any superiority to each other (p> 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that patients with LHNP received physiotherapy had improvement based on clinical and radiologic evidence. NSDT can be used as assistive agent for other physiotherapy methods in treatment of lumbar disc herniation.