Comparison of high-intensity laser therapy and combination of tens and ultrasound treatment in the patients with lumbar radiculopathy

Background: The aim of the study was to compare the effects of High-Intensity Laser Therapy and combination of TENS and Ultrasound treatment on the pain and functionality in the patients with lumbar radiculopathy. Material and methods. The randomized study included 54 patients divided into two groups of 27 patients who diagnosed as lumbar radiculopathy with lumbar MRI findings. The study was designed as a prospective, randomized, single blind study. Patients were randomly assigned into two groups and received 10 treatment sessions of combination of Hot pack+TENS+US and exercise, Hot pack+HILT and exercise over a period of 2 consecutive weeks. A total of 10 sessions, 3 sets of 10 repetitive exercise programs for 5 days per week were given in the presence of a physiotherapist. Exercise program consisted of strengthening and lumbar stabilisation exercises. The outcomes measured were pain level measured by visual analog scale (VAS) and disability quantified by OSTWESTRY at the end of the therapy and 4 weeks later. Results. Our study included 54 patients (36 women and 28 men, aged 19-64 years, mean age 51.7±11.5). At the end of the 2-week intervention, participants in the HILT group showed a significantly greater decrease in pain than participants in the TENS+US therapy group. Statistically significant differences in change in pain and functionality (VAS and OSTWESTRY scores) were observed after 10 treatment sessions for participants in the HILT group compared with participants in the TENS+US therapy group. Conclusion. The results showed that HILT and TENS+US combined with exercise were effective treatment modalities in decreasing the VAS and OSTWESTRY scores at the end of the therapy and 4 weeks later. TENS+US combined with exercises was more effective than HILT combined with exercise.