Background

Low back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide. The therapeutic management of patients with chronic LBP is challenging.

Objectives

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of heat and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation combined on pain relief in participants with chronic low back pain.

Methods

Fifty participants with chronic (≥3 months) low back pain were randomly assigned to two groups: HeatTens (n = 25) and control group (n = 25). Primary outcome was pain. Secondary outcomes were pressure pain thresholds, temporal summation, conditioned pain modulation, fear-avoidance and beliefs questionnaire, central sensitization inventory, quality of life, and medication use. The control group received no treatment and continued usual care. After four weeks of treatment, all measurements were repeated.

Results

Fifty individuals participated in this study. Significant higher pressure pain threshold measures after both 30 min and 4 weeks for the lower back region and the second plantar toe were found only in the experimental group.

Conclusion

The combination of heat and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation does not reduce pain scores in patients with chronic low back pain. Pressure pain threshold values significantly improved, showing beneficial effects of the experimental treatment.

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03643731 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03643731).

中文翻译：

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经皮神经电刺激和热能减轻慢性腰痛人群的疼痛：一项随机对照临床试验。

背景

腰痛是全世界残疾的主要原因。慢性腰痛患者的治疗管理具有挑战性。

目标

本研究的目的是评估热和经皮神经电刺激相结合对慢性腰痛参与者疼痛缓解的效果。

方法

50 名患有慢性（≥3 个月）腰痛的参与者被随机分配到两组：HeatTens（n  = 25）和对照组（n  = 25）。主要结果是疼痛。次要结果是压痛阈值、时间总和、条件性疼痛调节、恐惧回避和信念问卷、中枢敏化库存、生活质量和药物使用。对照组不接受治疗并继续常规护理。治疗四周后，重复所有测量。

结果

五十人参与了这项研究。仅在实验组中发现 30 分钟和 4 周后下背部区域和第二足底脚趾的压力疼痛阈值显着升高。

结论

热和经皮神经电刺激的结合不会降低慢性腰痛患者的疼痛评分。压痛阈值显着改善，显示了实验治疗的有益效果。

ClinicalTrials.gov：NCT03643731 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03643731)。