Decompression Therapy Helps to Reduce Pain & Improve Function in Patients with Lumbar Disc Protrusion

Abstract

Traction or Decompression is an effective method used to rehabilitate patients with spinal disc protrusion. Decompression reduces the intra-disc pressure and provides space to allow the disc to remake itself. The objective of this investigation was to measure the effects of lumbar spine decompression therapy in patients with lumbar radiculopathy due to disc protrusion. A single-blind randomized controlled trial of 120 patients was conducted at Max Rehab & Physical Therapy Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan. All the patients were randomly allocated to a decompression group or a control group. Both groups received manual physical therapy treatment, including moist hot packs, soft tissue mobilization, manual spinal traction, lumbar spine mobilization, stretching and strengthening exercises, and a home plan. The only difference was that the decompression group received additional decompression therapy. The collected data included demographics and the numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) scores for the back pain, and the patient's functional levels through the modified Oswestry disability index. The data was collected before 1^st visit and after 8^th visit. We found that after the end of the 8^th session of treatment, there was a significant difference in the baseline (pre) NPRS median interquartile range (IQR) value of the control group 3(1), and the decompression group 2(1), compared to their baseline (pre) values, with a p-value less than 0.001. The pre- (Modified Oswestry disability index (MODI) median (IQR) value of the control group was 43.5(7), and the decompression group was 28(9) with a p-value less than 0.001. We concluded that additional decompression therapy showed better results in managing patients’ back pain and improving their functional level.