Effect of therapeutic infra-red in patients with non-specific low back pain: A pilot study

Noureddin Nakhostin Ansari, Soofia Naghdi, Nasrin Naseri, Ebrahim Entezary, Shahnur Irani, Shohreh Jalaie, Scott Hasson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of infra-red (IR) in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain (NSLBP). Ten patients with NSLBP (5 men and 5 women) and disease duration of 21.7 ± 11.50 months participated in this pilot study. Patients had a mean age of 36.40 ± 10.11 years (range = 25-55). Patients were treated with infra-red (IR) for 10 sessions, each for 15 min, 3 days per week, for a period of 4 weeks. Outcome measures were the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), the Functional Rating Index (FRI), the Modified-Modified Schober Test (MMST), and the Biering-Sorensen test to assess pain severity, disability, lumbar flexion and extension range of motion (ROM), and back extensor endurance, respectively. Data were collected at: baseline - study entry (T0); end of 5th treatment session after 2 weeks (T1); and end of the treatment after 4 weeks (T2). The results of the ANOVA demonstrated a statistically significant main effect of IR on all outcomes of pain, function, lumbar flexion-extension ROM, and back extensor endurance. The treatment effect sizes ranged from large to small. IR was effective in improving pain, function, lumbar ROM, and back extensor endurance in a sample of patients with NSLBP. Treatment effect sizes ranged from large to small indicating clinically relevant improvements primarily in pain and function for patients with NSLBP.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)75-81
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies
Volume18
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2014

Keywords

  • Infra-red
  • Low back pain
  • Physiotherapy
  • Superficial heat

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Complementary and Manual Therapy
  • Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
  • Rehabilitation
  • Complementary and alternative medicine

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