PNF With and Without Electrical Stimulation in Patients With Chronic Lumbar Radiculopathy

Riphah International University48 enrolled

Overview

Numerous researches have shown how PNF is been used to treat non specific low back pain, subacromial impingement, cervical radiculopathy and many others. In some studies different techniques like Mckenzie method, spinal mobilization and Mulligan traction other than PNF were being used to treat lumbar radiculopathy. According to researchers knowledge little literature available to see the effectiveness of PNF with electrical stimulation in patients with chronic lumbar radiculopathy. Therefore, the purpose of the current study is to examine the effects of PNF with electrical stimulation in patients with chronic lumbar radiculopathy.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Lumbar Radiculopathy

Interventions

Group A receive PNF including combination of isotonic and rhythmic stabilization on trunk with electrical stimulation Participants perform three sets10 repetitions at maximal resistance The resting interval of 30 seconds and 60 seconds will be provided after the completion of 10 repetitions for each pattern and between sets respectively. In total all PNF exercise will be held for 30 to 45 minutes. 'BURST' TENS (acupuncture-like TENS), characterized by discontinuous stimulation at low frequencies (1-4 Hz), with wave durations of 100-400 ms and high intensities, inducing weak muscle twitches for 10 minutes.

PNF without electrical stimulationOTHER

Group B receive PNF including combination of isotonic and rhythmic stabilization on trunk without electrical stimulation. Participants perform three sets of 10 repetitions at maximal resistance will be provided by the same physiotherapist. The resting interval of 30 seconds and 60 seconds will be provided after the completion of 10 repetitions for each pattern and between sets respectively. In total all PNF exercise will be held for 30 to 45 minutes.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 40 YearsMax age: 70 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * • Diagnosed cases of lumbar radiculopathy * Either one or both legs affected by radiating pain * Signs of nerve root compression like paresthesia, numbness, tingling, sharp pain * Impaired deep tendon reflex(knee jerk, ankle jerk) * Both male and female * Radiological evidence of lumbar spondylosis with radiculopathy * Age group between 40 to 70 years * Positive SLR test between 45° to 70° * All subjects with symptoms for duration of more than 6 weeks * Increase leg pain by coughing and sneezing Exclusion Criteria: * Serious spinal conditions e.g infection, tumor, osteoporosis * Uncontrolled hypertension * Severe cognitive impairment * Other neurological conditions and systemic illness like kidney and visceral diseases * Vertebral fracture and spondylolisthesis * Pregnant women * History of spinal surgery in previous 6 months * Clinical conditions such as oversensitive skin, patients with cardiac pacemakers where application of TENS is contraindicated

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

pain numeric rating scale

The pain numeric rating scale is a segmented numeric version of visual analog scale in which a respondent selects a whole number 0 to 10 that reflects the intensity of pain. The 11 point numeric scale ranges from 0 representing no pain and 10 representing extreme pain. Higher scores indicating greater pain intensity. e.g. as bad as you can imagine or worst pain. NPRS takes less than 1 minute to complete and easy to administer and score.

Time frame: 6th week

Modified Oswestry disability index

MODI also known as the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire, as a very crucial instrument to assess a patient's functional disability over the long term. MODI is a patient completed questionnaire included 10 sections of questions. This tool is effective for persistent severe disability. The MODI domains are the following: pain intensity, personal care, lifting, walking, sitting, standing, sleeping, social life, travelling and employment/home making. Each section has six statements that are scored from 0 means minimum degree of difficulties in that activity to 5 means maximum degree of difficulty.