Indian Journal of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy - An International Journal
  • Year: 2015
  • Volume: 9
  • Issue: 2

Comparison between the Effectiveness of using Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) with Back Strengthening Exercises and the use of Back Strengthening Exercises only on Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain: a Pilot Crossover Double Blind Study

  • Author:
  • Mohannad Hawamdeh1,, Abd Al Majeed Al Malty1, Hashem Abu Tariah1, Mohammad H Omar2, Waseem R Shtayyat2
  • Total Page Count: 4
  • Page Number: 210 to 213

1The Hashemite University, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Department of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Alzarqa-Jordan

2Royal Medical Services, Royal Rehabilitation Center, Amman-Jordan

*Corresponding author: Dr. Mohannad Hawamdeh PT, PhD, The Hashemite University, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Department of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Alzarqa-Jordan. E-mail: mohannadhawamdeh@hu.edu.jo.

Online published on 6 April, 2015.

Abstract

The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of using combination of TENS with back strengthening exercises and the use of back strengthening exercises only on pain relief and improving the performance of the activities of daily living on patients with chronic low back pain.

Twenty patients (age between 30–50 years from both sexes) with classical low back pain were divided into two groups randomly: Group A (treatment group) and Group B (control group). Each group has 10 patients. The TENS combined with back strengthening exercises were applied to the treatment group three times a week over 6 weeks for 30 minutes per session 15 minutes -TENS ON- 15 minutes back strengthening exercises, the control group was treated with the -TENS OFF- placebo and back strengthening exercises three times a week over 6 weeks for 30 minutes per session 15 minutes TENS OFF 15 minutes back strengthening exercises. The two groups were assessed for pain and activity of daily living (at baseline, after 6 weeks, and after 12 weeks to study the carry over effect). For pain assessment we have used VAS scale and for the assessment of activities of daily living we have used Ka Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living.

The results showed that there was a significant improvement in TENS ON/Back strengthening exercises group therapy in comparison with TENS OFF/Back strengthening exercises group.

Keywords

TENS, Low back pain, VAS, Back strengthening Exercises