EFFECT OF FOCUSED SHOCK WAVE THERAPY ON MOBILITY OF THE LUMBAR SPINE
Introduction. Low back pain has a negative impact on the quality of life of patients and is an economic burden on healthcare systems. With the introduction of shock wave therapy, new possibilities for the treatment of back pain have opened up. The research purpose was to evaluate the effect of focused shock wave therapy on the mobility of the lumbar spine in patients with chronic non - specific pain in the lower back. Materials and research methods. A randomized controlled trial was conducted in 73 patients with complaints of chronic non - specific pain in the lower back. Patients were randomized into two groups depending on the treatment methods used. The 1 group (n=36) received complex treatment in the form of massage and exercise therapy. The 2 group (n=37) received complex treatment in the form of focused shock wave therapy, exercise therapy and massage. The study assessed flexion and lateroflexion of the lumbar spine. Results and its discussion. According to the obtained data, by the end of the study, patients in both groups showed positive dynamics in all indicators (p<0.05). Pairwise comparison of the results of groups 1 and 2 at each stage of the assessment did not reveal a statistically significant difference (p>0.05). Conclusion. The use of focused shock wave therapy does not affect the mobility of the lumbar spine in patients with chronic non - specific pain in the lower back.