The purpose of this study is to determine if participation in physical therapy in conjunction with a selective nerve root block in the lumbar spine is more effective than just receiving the injection alone for patients with low back and leg pain from a disk herniation (sciatica).
Recent reviews report moderate to strong evidence for short-term relief but limited evidence for long-term improvement. Anecdotal reports and case studies suggest good outcomes with various physical therapy interventions however well-designed research studies examining treatments in combination are lacking. The management of lumbar radicular pain often includes the combination of physical therapy and therapeutic selective nerve root blocks with the rationale that reducing inflammation and pain will permit greater participation in physical therapy. The effectiveness of this combination of treatment has not been studied and is the purpose of this pilot study.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
44
Patients are instructed to resume normal activity as tolerated.
Participants are referred to an average of four weeks of physical therapy after receiving a lumbar injection. Physical therapy designed to include end-range directional preference exercises and/or mechanical traction to reduce lower extremity symptoms and progress activity tolerance.
Intermountain Healthcare
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Modified Oswestry Disability Index
Time frame: Baseline (pre-injection), 8 weeks (post-injection), 6 months post-injection
Global Rating of Change
Time frame: 8 weeks (post-injection) and 6 months (post-injection)
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