The Effect of Exercise Therapy, Dry Needling, and Nonfunctional Electrical Stimulation on Radicular Pain: A Case Report Publisher



Hosseini L¹ ; Shariat A¹ ; Ghaffari MS¹ ; Honarpishe R² ; Cleland JA³
Source: Journal of Exercise Rehabilitation Published:2018

Abstract

A 43-year-old male, office worker with history of chronic radicular low back pain radiating into the left leg was admitted to a sports medicine research center, neuroscience institute. During the past year, he visited a physiotherapist and orthopedic experts. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a protruded disc at L4-5 level. Additionally, electromyography indicated that there was bilateral moderate irritation at the L5-S1 root. We designed a management package including exercise therapy, dry needling, and nonfunctional electrical stimulation for four sessions. Outcomes included pain intensity, pain with lumbar flexion, with the nu-merical rating scale (NRS), visual analogue scale (VAS), and function measured with the Oswestry Disability Index before and after the inter-vention. After 4 treatment sessions, the patient reported a reduction in pain intensity from a 9 to 2 on the NRS and from 90 to 30 on the VAS. In addition, the patient was able to perform lumbar flexion fully without pain. © 2018 Korean Society of Exercise Rehabilitation.