Department of Physiotherapy, University of Applied Health Sciences, Zagreb, Croatia.
Department of Physiotherapy, Polyclinic Cerebellum, Varaždin, Croatia.
Physiother Res Int. 2025 Jan;30(1):e70009. doi: 10.1002/pri.70009.
This randomised controlled trial evaluates the effectiveness of capacitive resistive monopolar radiofrequency (CRMRF) combined with proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) training in managing chronic low back pain (CLBP). Given the multifactorial nature of CLBP, this study explores a multimodal treatment approach integrating CRMRF, known for its thermal effects and ability to alleviate pain through improved cell metabolism and microcirculation, with PNF training, which enhances muscle strength, flexibility, and proprioception.
This study was designed as a single-blind, parallel, randomised controlled trial conducted in an outpatient clinical setting. Over the course of four months, 62 participants, suffering from chronic low back pain were randomly assigned to receive either the combined CRMRF and PNF treatment or PNF alone, with primary outcomes measured in terms of pain and functional disability using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). For secondary outcome of disability associated with pain, Quebec Pain Disability Scale (QPDS) and Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) were used. The study's hypothesis was that the combined treatment would reduce pain and disability more effectively than PNF alone.
Results indicated that the experimental group experienced greater improvements in pain and functional disability, surpassing the minimally clinically important difference (MCID) for the VAS, ODI, QPDS and RMDQ, suggesting the clinical relevance of the combined CRMRF and PNF approach.
These findings are consistent with previous research highlighting the benefits of CRMRF in various musculoskeletal disorders and suggest that integrating CRMRF with PNF training offers a promising non-invasive treatment option for CLBP sufferers. Overall, our study contributes to the growing evidence base supporting innovative, multimodal treatment strategies for managing CLBP, with the potential to enhance patients' quality of life.
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05682287.
本随机对照试验评估了电容电阻式单极射频（CRMRF）联合本体感觉神经肌肉促进（PNF）训练治疗慢性下腰痛（CLBP）的有效性。鉴于 CLBP 的多因素性质，本研究探索了一种多模式治疗方法，将 CRMRF 与 PNF 训练相结合，前者以其热效应和通过改善细胞代谢和微循环缓解疼痛的能力为特点，后者则增强肌肉力量、柔韧性和本体感觉。
本研究设计为单盲、平行、随机对照试验，在门诊临床环境中进行。在四个月的时间里，62 名患有慢性下腰痛的患者被随机分为接受联合 CRMRF 和 PNF 治疗或单独 PNF 治疗的两组，主要结局指标是使用视觉模拟评分（VAS）和 Oswestry 残疾指数（ODI）评估疼痛和功能障碍，次要结局指标是与疼痛相关的残疾，使用魁北克疼痛残疾量表（QPDS）和 Roland-Morris 残疾问卷（RMDQ）进行评估。研究假设是联合治疗比单独使用 PNF 更能有效减轻疼痛和残疾。
结果表明，实验组在疼痛和功能障碍方面的改善更为显著，超过了 VAS、ODI、QPDS 和 RMDQ 的最小临床重要差异（MCID），表明联合 CRMRF 和 PNF 方法的临床相关性。
这些发现与之前的研究一致，强调了 CRMRF 在各种肌肉骨骼疾病中的益处，并表明将 CRMRF 与 PNF 训练相结合为 CLBP 患者提供了一种有前途的非侵入性治疗选择。总体而言，我们的研究为管理 CLBP 的创新、多模式治疗策略提供了更多证据支持，有望提高患者的生活质量。
ClinicalTrials.gov 标识符：NCT05682287。
