Does the Use of Interferential Current Prior to Pilates Exercises Accelerate Improvement of Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain?

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate whether active interferential current (AIC) before pilates exercises improves pain faster than placebo interferential current (PIC) in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNLBP). Methods: A total of 142 patients with CNLBP were treated with AIC or PIC before pilates exercises. Pain intensity was measured daily before and after treatment by Pain Numerical Rating Scale. Statistical analysis was performed using survival analysis for Kaplan–Meier method. Results: The AIC group presented 30% reduction of pain one session, 50% reduction of pain two sessions and 100% reduction of pain three sessions faster than the PIC group and these improvements were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The AIC before pilates exercises can reduce pain faster than PIC in patients with CNLBP.

Keywords::

• back pain
• chronic pain
• electric stimulation therapy
• exercise movement technics
• interferential current
• pilates method
• placebo
• speed of improvement
• survival analysis

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This study was funded by Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP – 2013/17303-6). The FAPESP was not involved with the data collection or analysis. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

The authors state that this study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Universidade Cidade de São Paulo (CAAE 18034113.7.0000.0064). In addition, before assessment the participants gave consent and signed the informed consent form.

Author contributions

The authors YRS Franco, KFM Franco, RE Liebano and CMN Cabral were responsible for study design; KFM Franco, YRS Franco collected data; KFM Franco, YRS Franco, RE Liebano were responsible for statistical analysis; KFM Franco, LA Silva, MO Silva and MN Rodrigues were responsible for writing the article; CMN Cabral, RE Liebano, KFM Franco and YRS Franco contributed to the improvement of the paper and all the authors performed the reading and approved the final version of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP – 2013/17303-6). The FAPESP was not involved with the data collection or analysis. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.