Conditions for Lower Back Pain Working Nurse Clinical Trial
Official title:
Light -Emitting Diode Photobiomodulation Therapy for Non-specific Low Back Pain in Working Nurses: A Single-center, Double-blind, Prospective, Randomized Controlled Trial
Background: Low back pain (LBP) affects approximately 51-57% of hospital nurses and nurses'
aides in Europe. New high-risk groups include home- and long-term-care nurses and
physiotherapists. A number of European countries are experiencing a shortage of healthcare
workers. Light therapy has been shown to be an effective treatment for various
musculoskeletal disorders, including lateral epicondylitis, temporomandibular joint pain,
carpal tunnel syndrome, and delayed-onset muscle soreness. A systematic review and
meta-analysis demonstrated that low-level laser therapy is an effective method for relieving
non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP). However, the efficacy of light-emitting diode
(LED) therapy for NSCLBP is disputed. This study aims to evaluate the effect of LED therapy
on NSCLBP.
Methods and analysis: The investigators conducted a prospective, double-blind, randomized
placebo-controlled trial of 148 patients with NSCLBP. The patients were randomly assigned to
two groups: intervention group, where patients received LED photobiomodulation therapy three
times a week for 2 weeks, and the control group, where patients had sham treatment only three
times a week for 2 weeks. Primary outcome measures included the visual analog scale for pain,
lumbar active range of motion assessments, and chair-rising times. Secondary outcome measures
included a Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire, and the
Oswestry Disability Index. The outcome measures were assessed before therapy and 2 weeks, 4
weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, and 6 months after the first interventions were completed.
Discussion: This study is a prospective, single-center, double-blind, randomized, controlled
study. This study aims to research the efficacy of a 2-week LED program for NSCLBP working
nurse. The results will be useful for patients, working nurses, nurses' aides, and other
healthcare workers with chronic low back pain.
Trial registration number: This protocol was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov, under the
number 108-088-F.
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