A prospective randomized controlled study of VAX-D and TENS for the treatment of chronic low back pain

• Published in: Neurological research (New York) Vol. 23; no. 7; p. 780
• Main Authors: Sherry, E, Kitchener, P, Smart, R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.10.2001
• Subjects: Adult; Chronic Disease; Female; Humans; Intervertebral Disc - injuries; Intervertebral Disc - pathology; Intervertebral Disc - physiopathology; Intervertebral Disc Displacement - complications; Intervertebral Disc Displacement - physiopathology; Intervertebral Disc Displacement - therapy; Low Back Pain - etiology; Low Back Pain - physiopathology; Low Back Pain - therapy; Lumbar Vertebrae - injuries; Lumbar Vertebrae - pathology; Lumbar Vertebrae - physiopathology; Male; Middle Aged; Pain Measurement; Placebo Effect; Prospective Studies; Recovery of Function - physiology; Traction - methods; Traction - statistics & numerical data; Traction - trends; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation - standards; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0161-6412
• DOI: 10.1179/016164101101199180

Low back pain is one of the most significant medical and socioeconomic problems in modern society. International guidelines call for evidence-based management for the pain and disability associated with musculoskeletal disorders. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to address the question of efficacy and appropriateness of vertebral axial decompression (VAX-D) therapy, a new technology that has been shown in clinical research to create negative intradiscal pressures, and has been shown to be effective in treating patients presenting with chronic low back pain (> 3 months duration) with associated leg pain. Successful outcome was defined as a 50% reduction in pain utilizing a 10 cm Visual Analog Pain Scale and an improvement in the level of functioning as measured by patient-nominated disability ratings. Patients were randomly assigned to VAX-D or to TENS which was used as a control treatment or placebo. The TENS treatment demonstrated a success rate of 0%, while VAX-D demonstrated a success rate of 68.4% (p < 0.001). A statistically significant reduction in pain and improvement in functional outcome was obtained in patients with chronic low back pain treated with VAX-D.