Comparison the Efficacy of Ultrasound Therapy and Phonophoresis with Virgin Olive Oil on Athlete's Chronic Low Back Pain: A Pilot Study

Virgin Olive oil contains Oleocanthal as an anti-inflammatory agent. The main purpose of this study was to compare the effects of ultrasound therapy and phonophoresis with virgin olive oil on female athlete's chronic Low Back Pain (LBP). Thirty female athletes with chronic LBP voluntarily participated in this pilot study. Patients were randomly assigned to Phonophoresis (n=15) and Ultrasound (n=15) groups and were treated with virgin olive oil or ultrasound gel for 10 sessions. Frequency and duration of treatment by ultrasound were 1 MHz and 10-min, respectively. Subjects completed Mc Gill, Modified Oswestry and Ronald-Morris standard questionnaires before and after 10 sessions of physiotherapy. There was a significant reduction in symptoms of LBP based on Mc Gill, Ronald Morris, and Modified Oswestry questionnaires at the end of the therapy in both groups compared to pre-treatment status (P<0.05). Although the mean post-treatment scores were lower than the mean pre treatment scores in all questionnaires in phonophoresis compared with ultrasound group, there was no significant difference in symptoms of LBP between two groups (P>0.05). It seems both ultrasound and phonophoresis with virgin olive oil are effective methods for treatment of chronic LBP in female athletes.