Effectiveness of Scrambler Therapy on patient with chronic low back pain: A case report

Document Type : Case Report

Authors
M. J. Islam 1
S. Ahmed 2
K. K. Islam 1
M. A. Al Mamun 1
1 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, Sylhet- 3100, Bangladesh.
2 Ahmed Physiotherapy & Research Center, 151, Lake Circus, Kalabagan, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh.
10.22034/ijmpp.8.4.950
Abstract
Aims: The leading cause of disability, Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP), severely impacts a person's quality of life. It creates numerous challenges for clinicians to treat, where Scramble Therapy (ST) is effective and safe for the treatment of CLBP.

Case presentation: A 51-year-old male patient (height 165 cm, weight 71 kg, BMI of 25.3 kg/m2, and a waist-to-hip ratio of 0.98), with >5 years of CLBP, underwent scrambler therapy. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and the modified Schobert test were used to assess the degree of pain, functional impairment, and lumbar range of motion. Following ten sessions of treatment, the Oswestry Disability Index reduced from 50% to 12%, the VAS score went from 7.5 cm to 1.5 cm, and the lumbar range of motion improved (flexion 45mm to 68 mm and extension 21 mm to 32 mm).

Conclusion: In CLBP patients, the ST treatment is successful in reducing the intensity of chronic pain, lowering functional impairment, and improving the lumbar range of motion.

Keywords

Subjects

1. Airaksinen O, Brox JI, Cedraschi C, Hildebrandt J, Klaber-Moffett J, Kovacs F, et al. Chapter 4.European guidelinesfor the management of chronic nonspecific low back pain. Eur Spine J. 2006;15(2):s192–300.
2. Andersson GB. Epidemiological features of chronic low-back pain. Lancet. 1999;354:585–91.
3. Freburger JK, Holmes GM, Agans RP, Jackman AM, Darter JD, Wallace AS, et al. The rising prevalence of chronic low back pain. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(3):251–8.
4. Fatoye F, Gebrye T, Mbada CE, Useh U. Clinical and economic burden of low back pain in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review. BMJ Open. 2023 Apr;13(4):e064119.
5. Juniper M, Le TK, Mladsi D. The epidemiology, economic burden, and pharmacological treatment of chronic low back pain in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK: A literature-based review. Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2009;10(16):2581–92.
6. Chou R, Huffman LH. Nonpharmacologic therapies for acute and chronic low back pain: a review of the evidence for an American Pain Society/American College of Physicians clinical practice guideline. Ann Intern Med. 2007 Oct;147(7):492–504.
7. Marineo G. Untreatable pain resulting from abdominal cancer: new hope from biophysics? JOP. 2003 Jan;4(1):1–10.
8. Ricci M, Pirotti S, Scarpi E, Burgio M, Maltoni M, Sansoni E, et al. Managing chronic pain: Results from an open-label study using MC5-A Calmare® device. Support Care Cancer. 2012;20(2):405–12.
9. Starkweather AR, Coyne P, Lyon DE, Elswick RK, An K, Sturgill J. Decreased Low Back Pain Intensity and Differential Gene Expression Following Calmare®: Results From a Double-Blinded Randomized Sham-Controlled Study. Res Nurs Heal. 2015;38(1):29–38.
10. Ghatak RK, Nandi SN, Bhakta A, Mandal GC, Bandyopadhyay M, Kumar S. Prospective study of application of biological communication (cybernatics) in management of chronic low back pain--a preliminary report. Nepal Med Coll J. 2011;13(4):257–60.
11. Tantawy SA, Kamel DM, Abdelbasset WK, Nambi G. A randomized controlled trial investigating the impact of interferential therapy on pain, range of motion and quality of life in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain. Arch Balk Med :union:. 2020;55(1):47–54.
12. Yarnitsky D, Sprecher E, Zaslansky R, Hemli JA. Multiple session experimental pain measurement. Pain. 1996 Oct;67(2–3):327–33.
13. Vianin M. Psychometric properties and clinical usefulness of the Oswestry Disability Index. J Chiropr Med. 2008;7(4):161–3.
14. Malik K, Sahay P, Saha S, Kumar Das R, Mpt S, Professor A. Normative Values of Modified-Modified Schober Test in Measuring Lumbar Flexion and Extension: A Cross-Sectional Study. Int J Heal Sci Res. 2016;6(7):177.
International Journal of Musculoskeletal Pain Prevention
Volume 8, Issue 4
January 2023
Pages 950-953