Efficacy of six weeks infrared radiation therapy on chronic low back pain and functional disability in National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu, south east, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Infrared radiation therapy is a modality widely used in Physiotherapy for the management of pain. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of six weeks infrared radiation therapy on pain intensity and functional disability index in subjects suffering from non- specific low back pain

Methods: The study was a pre-test post-test two group pre-experimental design. A total of fifty subjects (26 males and 24 females) of black African origin clinically diagnosed with non specific chronic low back pain that met the inclusion criteria were recruited for the study, but only 44 subjects (26 males and 18 females) completed the six weeks study. The subjects received infrared radiation therapy on the lower back region in prone lying for 30minutes, three times weekly, during the treatment period, for six weeks. Subjects' pre and post treatment pain level and functional disability scores were assessed using the lO point numerical rating pain scale and the Oswestry disability index questionnaire. The data was analyzed using the Students' t-test.

Results: Findings from the study showed significant decrease in the means of the pre-test and post-test scores of the variables by 95% C.I at p < 0.05.

Conclusion: Six weeks infrared radiation therapy is effective in reducing pain and improving functional disability index in chronic low back pain.

Keywords: Chronic low back pain, pain intensity, functional disability, infrared radiation therapy