[Analysis of effectiveness of selected treatment methods in patients with chronic low back pain]

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) are becoming more and more frequently met disorder in modern society. Appearance of these symptoms mainly contribute degenerative changes in spine joints. Preventive, noninvasive treatment constitutes an important factor in therapy of chronic pain, therefore effective treatment methods for inhibiting the disease progression, pain-reducing and retrieving patients the functional ability are still seeking.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of ultrasounds, exercise therapy and combination therapy of both methods in the treatment of CLBP and comparing their effectiveness.

The study included 90 patients in the age of 42-82 treated for CLBP as a result of degenerative changes. Patients were divided into three 30-members groups. The first group used treatment consisted of ultrasounds. The second one included only exercise therapy and the third one underwent the combination of both methods - exercise therapy and sonotherapy. Treatment was continued for 2 weeks and was performed daily with the weekend break. Assessment of the pain level of was done with a VAS scale and a Laitinen questionnaire. The level of functional disability was determined on the basis of a modified Oswestry questionnaire. The spine motion was measured according to the Zembaty's methodology. Patients were examined twice - before and after therapy.

In all patients significant pain reduction was noticed. In addition, level of disability of patients became considerably less and the mobility of the spine for all tests increased significantly. There were no significant differences between groups after all therapies.

Ultrasounds, exercise therapy and combination of these two methods had a similar effectiveness in treatment of CLBP.