Shockwave Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain: Improving Pain and Balance
Authors: Sangyong Lee, PhD, PT, Daehee Lee, PhD, PT, and Jungseo Park, PhD, PT
This study investigated the effects of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) on patients with chronic low back pain. Twenty-eight patients were divided into two groups: one received ESWT while the other received conservative physical therapy. Both groups underwent an exercise program twice a week for six weeks that included Williams’ and McKenzie’s exercises. The patients’ pain levels were measured using a visual analog scale, while their dynamic balance ability was measured with BioRescue.
Results showed that both groups experienced significant improvements in pain levels after the intervention. However, the ESWT group showed significantly larger improvements in pain reduction than the conservative physical therapy group. In addition, the ESWT group also showed significant improvements in their dynamic balance ability in several different areas, while the conservative physical therapy group only showed improvements in two areas.
The study concluded that combining an exercise program with ESWT can provide greater relief for chronic low back pain compared to conservative physical therapy alone. Furthermore, ESWT can improve dynamic balance ability in multiple areas. These findings suggest that ESWT can be a valuable treatment option for patients suffering from chronic low back pain who also want to improve their balance.