The short term and long term effects of physiotherapy on pain, active lumbar range of motion and disability in patients with Chronic lumbar radicular pain

The aim of this study was to determine the short-term and long-term effects of one protocol of physiotherapy on reduction of pain, improve active lumbar range of motion and disability in the patients with chronic lumbar radicular pain.
A total of 12 patients with lumbar radiculopathy were included in this study. Physical therapy included electrical nerve stimulation at sensory level, superficial heat and therapeutic exercise for patients. Pain intensity of lumbar and affected lower extremity, active lumbar range of motion and disability were considered as variables in this study. The evaluation was performed 6 months after the end of therapy sessions. The repeated measure of ANOVA was used to assess the effect of physiotherapy and pair t-test was used to assess the follow-up.
Statistically significant differences were found in lumbar pain, affected lower extremity, active lumbar flexion, right and left lateral flexion and disability after treatment (p0.05).
Physiotherapy is an effective treatment in order to reduce pain and improve active lumbar range of motion in patients with lumbar radicular pain.