The Effectiveness of Matrix Rhythm Therapy in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain

Study Design. Randomized clinical study. Objective. Our study was planned to determine the effect of matrix rhythm therapy (MRT) on pain, level of disability, and quality of life in chronic low back pain. Summary of Background Data. Low back pain is a complex and heterogeneous disorder. Different therapy options can be applied in the treatment of low back pain. In the literature, there are very few studies showing the effect of MRT in patients with chronic low back pain. Methods. A total of 32 participants with a mean age of 36.41 +/- 8.91 years were randomly divided into two groups (intervention group and control group). Each participant was treated with ten sessions a combined physiotherapy program (hot pack, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, therapeutic ultrasound, home exercise and patient education program). Additionally, intervention group received six sessions of MRT. Pain (McGill Pain Questionnaire), level of disability (Oswestry Disability Index) and quality of life (Short Form-36) were measured before and after the treatment programme. Results. When pre- and post-treatment results were compared in the intervention group, a statistically significant difference was found in total pain level, disability level, and all subdimensions except the "Emotional Role'' subdimension of Short Form-36 (SF-36) and total SF-36 scores (P <= 0.05). In the control group, statistically significant differences were found in disability level, the "Vitality'' and "Bodily Pain'' subdimensions of SF-36 and total SF-36 scores (P <= 0.05). When the delta values were compared between groups, there was a statistically significant difference only in the "general health perceptions'' subdimension of SF-36 (P <= 0.05) in favor of the intervention group. Conclusion. It was determined that both the combined physiotherapy program and the MRT application in addition to the combined physiotherapy program have a positive effect on pain, disability level, and quality of life in patients with chronic low back pain.