EFFECTS OF LPG HUBER THERAPY ON CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN IN ELDERLY PATIENTS

Abstract

Križobolja je jedan od najvećih javnozdravstvenih problema današnjice. Njezina prevalencija veća je u osoba starije životne dobi iako se javlja sve više i kod mlađih osoba. Uzroci nastanka križobolje su različiti, a razlikuju se s obzirom na fazu života i stupanj progresije tijekom godina. Najčešći prisutni simptomi koji upućuju na kroničnu križobolju su: bol koja traje dulje od tri mjeseca te ograničena pokretljivost u lumbalnom dijelu kralježnice. Primjena analgetika te fizikalna terapija i rehabilitacija uz različite postupke neizostavan su dio liječenja. Cilj ovoga istraživanja bio je utvrditi može li LPG Huber uređaj u kombinaciji s fizikalnom terapijom doprinijeti većem smanjenju stupnja boli te povećanju pokretljivosti u lumbalnom dijelu kralježnice u odnosu na primjenu isključivo fizikalne terapije. Istraživanje je provedeno u kontroliranim uvjetima u Poliklinici Medikol. Ukupno je sudjelovalo 42 ispitanika u dobi od 60 do 65 godina s dijagnozom kronične križobolje. U radu nije utvrđena statistički značajna razlika između kontrolne skupine (primjena fizikalne terapije) i eksperimentalne skupine (primjena fizikalne terapije u kombinaciji s LPG Huber uređajem). U rezultatima je vidljivo da fizikalna terapija, kao i kombinacija fizikalne i LPG Huber terapije, dovodi do poboljšanja simptoma kod obje skupine pacijenata.Back pain is one of the biggest public health problems of today. Its prevalence is higher in the elderly, although it is also increasing in younger people. The causes of back pain vary, depending on the stage of life and the degree of progression over the years. The most common symptoms suggestive of chronic back pain are the following: pain lasting longer than 3 months, and limited mobility in the lumbar spine. The use of analgesics, as well as physical therapy and rehabilitation with various procedures, are an indispensable part of treatment. The aim of this study was to determine whether the LPG Huber device in combination with physical therapy could contribute to a greater reduction in pain and increased mobility in the lumbar spine compared to the use of physical therapy alone. The study was conducted under controlled conditions at the Medikol Clinic. The study included a total of 42 subjects, aged 60 to 65, who were diagnosed with chronic back pain. No statistically significant difference was found between the control group (application of physical therapy) and the experimental group (application of physical therapy in combination with the LPG Huber device). The results show that physical therapy, as well as the combination of physical and LPG Huber therapy, leads to improved symptoms in both groups of patients