Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Physical Therapy for Low Back Pain According to Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings

Overview

Low back pain is a common musculoskeletal disorder associated with substantial disability and reduced quality of life. Although magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is frequently used to identify structural spinal abnormalities, the relationship between MRI findings and treatment outcomes remains unclear. This retrospective study aims to evaluate whether the effectiveness of a standardized physical therapy program differs according to baseline lumbar MRI findings. Medical records of 120 patients with low back pain who underwent lumbar MRI and completed 15 sessions of physical therapy between January 2022 and February 2026 will be reviewed. Patients will be classified into three MRI-based groups: disc herniation, disc degeneration, and non-specific MRI findings. Treatment outcomes will be assessed using changes in Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain scores and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores before and after treatment. The findings may contribute to identifying patient subgroups that respond differently to conservative treatment and support more individualized rehabilitation strategies.

Low back pain is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide and represents a major public health burden. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is commonly used to evaluate lumbar spine pathologies such as disc herniation, disc degeneration, Modic changes, facet joint arthropathy, and spinal stenosis. However, previous studies have demonstrated that many degenerative MRI findings are also present in asymptomatic individuals, raising questions regarding their clinical significance and prognostic value. Physical therapy is a cornerstone of conservative management for low back pain and has been shown to improve pain and functional outcomes. Nevertheless, treatment response varies considerably among patients, and factors influencing these differences remain incompletely understood. Baseline MRI findings may represent one potential predictor of treatment outcome, yet studies investigating this relationship are limited. The present retrospective study will evaluate whether treatment outcomes following a standardized physical therapy program differ according to lumbar MRI findings. Medical records of patients aged 18-65 years who presented with low back pain to the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic of Medical Park Göztepe Hospital between January 2022 and February 2026 will be reviewed. Eligible patients must have undergone lumbar MRI and completed a standardized 15-session physical therapy program consisting of hot pack application, ultrasound therapy, interferential current therapy, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). Patients will be categorized into three MRI groups: disc herniation, disc degeneration and non-specific MRI findings. MRI images will be reviewed and classified by an experienced physiatrist. Pain intensity and functional disability routinely recorded before and after treatment using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) will be extracted from medical records. The primary outcome will be the change in VAS pain score following treatment. Secondary outcomes will include changes in ODI scores. Comparisons of treatment response among MRI groups will be performed using appropriate parametric or non-parametric statistical tests. Multivariable regression analyses will be conducted to determine whether MRI findings independently predict treatment outcomes after adjustment for potential confounding factors. The results of this study may improve understanding of the prognostic value of lumbar MRI findings and contribute to the development of more personalized rehabilitation approaches for patients with low back pain.