Authors:
- Jurica Barjaktarević, Faculty of Health Studies, University of Rijeka, Department of Physiotherapy, Rijeka, Croatia
Article type:
Original Scientific Paper
Abstract:
Noninvasive spinal decompression is a type of motorized spinal traction that can help relieve back pain. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the effective action of spinal decompression therapy in the treatment of lower back pain and in increasing the range of motion of the lumbar spine, compared to other procedures used in physiotherapy. The study included 40 respondents divided into two groups. Group A received 10 minutes of infrared light therapy, 20 minutes of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), and a 15-minute spinal decompression procedure, a total of 10 therapies over 4 weeks. Group B received 10 minutes of infrared light therapy, 5 minutes of ultrasound (US) therapy, 5 minutes of laser therapy and 20 minutes of TENS, a total of 10 therapies over 2 and a half weeks. A visual analog scale (VAS) was used to measure pain, and a Schober test to measure the range of motion of the spine. VAS showed a significant reduction in group A, from 9.55 to 1.4, while in group B the reduction was from 9.5 to 4.3. Also, the range of motion of lumbar spine flexion in group A increased from 3 cm to 5.8 cm, in group B the range of motion increased from 2.8 to 5.1. The spine extension increased from 1.65 cm to 2.73 in group A which is more than in group B which had a shift from 1.44 cm to 1.98 cm. This work proved that the application of non-invasive spinal decompression therapy helps more to reduce pain and increase range of motion.
Keywords:
Noninvasive spinal decompression, Lower back pain, other physical procedures, radiculopathy, disc herniation