title: Effect of therapeutic infra-red in patients with non-specific low back pain: a pilot study.
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.
authors.affiliation: School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: nakhostin@sina.tums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Noureddin Nakhostin
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Ansari
authors.affiliation: School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Soofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naghdi
authors.affiliation: School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Nasrin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Naseri
authors.affiliation: School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ebrahim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Entezary
authors.affiliation: School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shahnur
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Irani
authors.affiliation: School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shohreh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jalaie
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hasson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007259:Infrared Rays / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008161:Lumbosacral Region / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular
keywords: Infra-red; Low back pain; Physiotherapy; Superficial heat