Good Vibrations For Backache?

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Good Vibrations For Backache?

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=55796

University of Manchester researchers are recruiting people with

backache caused by nerve root pain - commonly known as sciatica - in

the first ever study to discover if therapeutic ultrasound can help

their condition.

Dr McCarthy and his team at the University's Centre for

Rehabilitation Science need 30 volunteers aged 22-55 who have had

sciatica for less than 12 weeks, are not pregnant and have not had

previous spinal surgery.

The volunteers will receive advice on managing their pain and either

eight sessions of therapeutic ultrasound (TU) or eight sessions of

sham TU. They will also be assessed for pain, disability and general

health before the trial, immediately after the trial and again six

months later.

Dr McCarthy explains: " Sciatica is an extremely common and disabling

condition treated by physiotherapists.

" The pain caused by inflammation of lumbar nerve roots could

potentially be reduced with the application of TU, a form of

electrotherapy commonly used by physiotherapists to accelerate the

resolution of the inflammatory process in a multitude of soft-tissue

injuries. The study aims to address the unanswered question of

whether TU is effective in reducing pain and disability in patients

with lower back pain caused by sciatica.

" Obviously this will not only help us find out more about effective

treatment, it will help the volunteers understand more about their

condition. "

The study is a double blind randomized trial with both the volunteer

and treating physiotherapist unaware of the treatment allocation.

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To volunteer contact Fiona Stirling, Research Coordinator, Centre

for Rehabilitation Science, University of Manchester or Mr Ioannis

Paneris, Senior Physiotherapist, Manchester Royal Infirmary.