Effectiveness of physiotherapeutic procedures for the treatment of lumbar

Spine diseases are a worldwide social problem affecting increasingly high numbers of and younger individuals. The main complaints of patients with lumbar discopathy are pain sensations.The incidence of lumbar spine pain is increasingly high; therefore, lumbar pain disorders are called civilization diseases of our century. Effective treatment methods for lumbar pain that could be an alternative to pharmacological therapy are essential, particularly for patients with chronic pain. The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of physiotherapeutic interventions for the treatment of lumbar discopathy. In the years 2008-2009, physical methods were used in 70 patients with lumbar pain. They were supported by pharmacotherapy, massage and kinesitherapy in 38 patients. Six individuals were treated with pharmacotherapy alone. The present study focused on patients treated with physiotherapeutic interventions for lumbar discopathy. The study encompassed 70 patients subjected to the 21- day sanatorium rehabilitation. The age of patients ranged from 43 to 75 years (mean age – 59 years). Patients were divided into three age groups: Group I aged 43-55 years, 35 male patients (35%), Group II aged 56-65 years, 20 male patients (20%), Group III aged 66-75 years, 15 female patients (15%). Medical histories and physical examinations of patients were considered. The medical history data regarded the age of patients, time of the first pain sensations experienced and type of work. Physical examinations included:1. the Laitinen pain questionnaire, 2. the presence of Lasegue`s sign, 3, evaluation of the range of lumbar mobility. The following statistical methods were used to analyse measurement results: an arithmetic mean (x); standard deviation (SD); minimum-maximum values (Ex); a change in x Δx (%). The Student’s t test for dependent groups was applied to evaluate the differences in parameters before and after rehabilitation. P<0.05 was considered as significant. The study findings demonstrated that the use of physical stimuli significantly increased the spine mobility, reduced subjective perception of pain measured according to the VAS and improved functional activity of the affected. The physical interventions were found to have beneficial effects on the selected parameters.