Comparison of the Effect of Treatment Between Low-Frequency Currents and Medium-Frequency Currents in Low Back Pain Patients
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53555/ejac.v20i1.1152Keywords:
Low back pain, electrical stimulation, low-frequency currents, medium-frequency currents, pain management, functional improvement.Abstract
Background: Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders, significantly affecting individuals' daily activities, work productivity, and overall quality of life. Electrical stimulation therapies, including Low-Frequency Electrical Stimulation (LFES) and Medium-Frequency Electrical Stimulation (MFES), are widely used for pain management and functional rehabilitation. However, limited research has directly compared the efficacy of these two modalities.
Objective: This study aims to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of LFES and MFES in reducing pain intensity, improving functional outcomes, and enhancing patient satisfaction in individuals with chronic LBP.
Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted on 30 patients diagnosed with chronic LBP. Participants were randomly assigned to either the LFES or MFES group. Pain intensity was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), functional impairment was measured with the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and patient satisfaction was recorded through a structured questionnaire. Statistical analysis included independent t-tests and effect size calculations.
Results: Both LFES and MFES led to significant improvements in pain intensity and functional capacity. However, the MFES group demonstrated greater pain reduction (p < 0.0001) and superior functional improvement (p = 0.00179) compared to the LFES group. Patient satisfaction scores were similar between both groups, indicating that both treatments were well-tolerated.
Conclusion: MFES was found to be more effective than LFES in reducing pain and improving physical function among individuals with chronic LBP. These findings suggest that MFES could be considered a preferred electrical stimulation modality for LBP management. Future studies with larger sample sizes and long-term follow-up are recommended to validate these results.
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