12394
document
Continuous low-level heatwrap therapy for treating acute nonspecific low back pain . OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of 8 hours of continuous low-level heatwrap therapy for the treatment of acute nonspecific low back pain ( LBP ) . DESIGN Prospective , randomized , parallel , single-blind ( investigator ) , placebo-controlled , multicenter clinical trial . SETTING Five community-based research facilities . PARTICIPANTS Two-hundred nineteen subjects , aged 18 to 55 years , with acute nonspecific LBP . INTERVENTION Subjects were stratified by baseline pain intensity and gender and randomized to one of the following groups : evaluation of efficacy ( heatwrap , n=95 ; oral placebo , n=96 ) and blinding ( oral ibuprofen , n=12 ; unheated back , wrap n=16 ) . All treatments were administered for 3 consecutive days with 2 days of follow-up . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Primary : day 1 mean pain relief ( 0- to 5-point verbal response scale ) . Secondary : muscle stiffness ( 101-point numeric rating scale ) , lateral trunk flexibility ( fingertip-floor distance ) , and Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire over 3 days of treatment and 2 days of follow-up . RESULTS Heatwrap therapy was shown to provide significant therapeutic benefits when compared with placebo during both the treatment and follow-up period . On day 1 , the heatwrap group had greater pain relief ( 1.76+/-.10 vs 1.05+/-.11 , P < .001 ) , less muscle stiffness ( 43.1+/-1.21 vs 47.6+/-1.21 , P=.008 ) , and increased flexibility ( 18.6+/-.44 cm vs 16.5+/-.45 cm , P=.001 ) compared with placebo . Disability was also reduced in the heatwrap group ( 5.3 vs 7.4 , P=.0002 ) . Adverse events were mild and infrequent . CONCLUSION Continuous low-level heatwrap therapy was shown to be effective for the treatment of acute , nonspecific LBP .
12395
Intervention_Physical
continuous low-level heatwrap therapy
12396
Intervention_Control
placebo-controlled
12397
Intervention_Physical
heatwrap , n=95 ; oral placebo , n=96 )
12398
Intervention_Control
blinding ( oral ibuprofen , n=12 ; unheated back , wrap n=16
12399
Intervention_Physical
Heatwrap therapy
12400
Intervention_Control
placebo
12401
Intervention_Physical
heatwrap
12402
Intervention_Control
placebo
12403
Intervention_Physical
heatwrap
12404
Intervention_Physical
heatwrap therapy
12405
Outcome_Pain
pain relief ( 0- to 5-point verbal response scale ) .
12406
Outcome_Physical
muscle stiffness
12407
Outcome_Physical
101-point numeric rating scale
12408
Outcome_Physical
lateral trunk flexibility ( fingertip-floor distance )
12409
Outcome_Physical
Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire
12410
Outcome_Other
therapeutic benefits
12411
Outcome_Pain
pain relief
12412
Outcome_Physical
muscle stiffness
12413
Outcome_Other
flexibility
12414
Outcome_Physical
Disability
12415
Outcome_Adverse-effects
Adverse events
12416
Participant_Condition
acute nonspecific low back pain ( LBP )
12417
Participant_Sample-size
Two-hundred nineteen
12418
Participant_Age
aged 18 to 55 years
12419
Participant_Condition
acute nonspecific LBP