title: Effects of electrical stimulation program on trunk muscle strength, functional capacity, quality of life, and depression in the patients with low back pain: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: The aim of this clinical trial was to evaluate the effects of electrical stimulation (ES) program on trunk muscle strength, functional performance, quality of life (QOL) in the patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). A total of 41 patients with definite CLBP were included in this study. These patients were randomized into two groups. Group 1 (n = 21) was given an ES program and exercises. Group 2 (n = 20) was accepted as the control group and given only exercises. Both the programs were performed 3 days a week, for 8 weeks in the out-patient department. The patients were evaluated according to pain, disability, functional performance, endurance, quality of life, depression. The muscle strengths were measured with a hand-held dynamometer. There were significant improvements for all the parameters in two groups after the treatment. Except depression and social function, the improvements for all the parameters were better in the ES group than in the control group. We observed that ES program was very effective in improving QOL, functional performance and isometric strength. In conclusion, we can say that ES therapy provides comfortable life functions by improving muscle strength, functional performance and QOL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical Faculty, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey. drdilekdurmus@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Dilek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Durmus
authors.forename: Yesim
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Akyol
authors.forename: Gamze
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alayli
authors.forename: Berna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tander
authors.forename: Yeliz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zahiroglu
authors.forename: Ferhan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Canturk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003863:Depression / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D010045:Outpatients; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome