Effects of Non-Surgical Decompression Therapy in Addition to Routine Physical Therapy on Pain, Range of Motion, Endurance, Functional Disability and Quality of Life Versus Routine Physical Therapy Alone in Patients With Lumbar Radiculopathy: A Randomized Controlled Trial
60 Patients, 4-Week Trial
SOURCE
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35296293/
REFERENCE
42
NICE
REFERENCE
123
organisation
PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
TITLE
Effects of Non-Surgical Decompression Therapy in Addition to Routine Physical Therapy on Pain, Range of Motion, Endurance, Functional Disability and Quality of Life Versus Routine Physical Therapy Alone in Patients With Lumbar Radiculopathy: A Randomized Controlled Trial
60 Patients, 4-Week Trial
SOURCE
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35296293/
DISC COMMENTARY
This randomised controlled trial tested whether adding non-surgical spinal decompression to standard physical therapy improved outcomes for people with lumbar radiculopathy, nerve-related leg pain from the lower back, more than standard physical therapy alone, over a four-week treatment period.
What was studied?
60 patients with lumbar radiculopathy were randomised into two groups of 30, one receiving decompression alongside standard physical therapy and one receiving physical therapy alone, over four weeks, measuring pain, range of motion, endurance, disability and quality of life.
What did they find?
The combined-treatment group did meaningfully better across the board. Pain scores improved by just over a point more on a 10cm scale, disability scores improved by nearly 6 points more on the Oswestry Disability Index, and back muscle endurance improved by almost 14 seconds more.
Why it matters
This gives a fairly complete picture across multiple outcomes, not just pain, but movement, endurance and disability, all pointing the same direction: adding decompression to standard care gave a real, measurable extra benefit.
Why we included it
It reflects a broader theme: combining treatments can add real value over a single approach alone, supporting the case for layered, active rehabilitation rather than relying on any one therapy in isolation.
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What was studied?
60 patients with lumbar radiculopathy were randomised into two groups of 30, one receiving decompression alongside standard physical therapy and one receiving physical therapy alone, over four weeks, measuring pain, range of motion, endurance, disability and quality of life.
What did they find?
The combined-treatment group did meaningfully better across the board. Pain scores improved by just over a point more on a 10cm scale, disability scores improved by nearly 6 points more on the Oswestry Disability Index, and back muscle endurance improved by almost 14 seconds more.
Why it matters
This gives a fairly complete picture across multiple outcomes, not just pain, but movement, endurance and disability, all pointing the same direction: adding decompression to standard care gave a real, measurable extra benefit.
Why we included it
It reflects a broader theme: combining treatments can add real value over a single approach alone, supporting the case for layered, active rehabilitation rather than relying on any one therapy in isolation.