Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of the study was to identify the effectiveness of radial shockwave therapy in combination with spinal manipulation on active gluteus trigger points and non-specific lower back pain.
Method: A total of forty participants were utilised for the research study and were randomly divided into two groups of twenty participants each. Group 1 received radial shockwave therapy on gluteus medius trigger points and spinal manipulative therapy on L4-S1 levels. Group 2 received detuned ultrasound on gluteus medius trigger points and spinal manipulative therapy on L4-S1 levels. A total of six treatment sessions were required over a three-week period
Results: With regards to the subjective data readings, the results from the Visual Analogue scale from the intragroup analysis indicated that both groups improved over the treatment period, the radial shockwave group showed the greatest improvement (64,35%). The radial shockwave group and the detuned ultrasound groups yielded p-values of 0.00 and 0.00 respectively. The intergroup analysis showed a statistical significant difference between groups and showed that the radial shockwave group was the superior group. With regards to the objective measurements, the intragroup analysis of the pressure algometer readings indicated that the radial shockwave group showed the greatest improvement (51,76%) over time. The radial shockwave group and the detuned ultrasound groups yielded p-values of 0.00 and 0.01 respectively. There was no statistically significant difference with intergroup analysis.
Conclusion: The results showed that both treatment group protocols were effective in reducing the active gluteus medius trigger point pain and the non-specific lower back pain.