Riassunto dello studio

Eighty-two patients with chronic low back pain and lumbar disc herniation were randomized to receive ultrasound (n=31), short wave diathermy (n=31), or control therapy with hotpack, TENS, and exercise alone (n=20). The primary outcome was low back pain severity measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes included the Modified Oswestry Disability Index (MODI) and health-related quality of life assessed with SF-36. Outcomes were measured immediately post-treatment, at one month, and at three months. Overall, the results showed significant improvements in VAS and MODI across all groups, with sustained disability reduction in the ultrasound and diathermy groups. Quality-of-life parameters such as physical and social function, vitality, and emotional well-being improved mainly in the active treatment groups. These findings suggest that deep heating agents, when added to standard physical therapy, provide positive mid-term functional and psychosocial benefits in patients with lumbar disc herniation.