Effects of non-surgical decompression therapy in addition to routine physical therapy on pain, range of motion, endurance, functional disability and quality of life versus routine physical therapy alone in patients with lumbar radiculopathy; a randomized controlled trial

Review written by Dr Mary O'Keeffe info

Key Points

  1. This study concludes that adding non-surgical spinal decompression therapy to routine physiotherapy can improve pain in people with lumbar radiculopathy.
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BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE

Radiating leg pain (or ‘radicular pain’) can cause severe discomfort and functional limitation. It is caused by inflammation or compression of the lumbosacral nerve roots (L4-S1) forming the sciatic nerve. The term ‘radiculopathy’ describes involvement of the nerve root, which causes neurological deficit including weakness or numbness.

This clinical trial examined the effect of non-surgical spinal decompression therapy (a sensitive computerized feedback mechanism which decompresses the spinal nerve roots through segmental distraction) on pain in individuals with lumbar radiculopathy, compared to routine physiotherapy.

Radiating leg pain (or ‘radicular pain’) can cause severe discomfort and functional limitation.
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Clinicians should consider the severity of the person’s pain, their ability, and their preference, when recommending exercises.

METHODS

Study design: A non-blinded randomized controlled trial.

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