Iranian Rehabilitation Journal

en Mesotherapy vs Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for chronic low back pain in patients with radiculopathy طب فیزیکی و توانبخشی Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation پژوهشي Original Research Articles Background. Chronic low back pain with radiculopathy is a disabling condition where conventional treatments often provide limited relief. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and mesotherapy are promising modalities, yet their comparative efficacy is not well established. This study aimed to compare the effects of mesotherapy versus TENS on pain and functional disability in patients with MRI-confirmed lumbar radiculopathy. Methods. This open-label randomized clinical trial included 60 patients with chronic radicular low back pain. Patients were allocated to either a TENS group (10 sessions of 100Hz stimulation) or a mesotherapy group (6 sessions of subcutaneous piroxicam and lidocaine injections). Pain intensity was measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and functional disability with the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMQ) at baseline, immediately post-treatment, and at one- and two-month follow-ups. Results. Both TENS (p < 0.001) and mesotherapy (p < 0.001) groups showed significant improvements in VAS and RMQ scores compared to their respective baselines. Immediately following the interventions, patients in the mesotherapy group demonstrated a significantly greater reduction in both pain (VAS) and RMQ scores than those in the TENS group. This superiority was maintained at the one- and two-month follow-up assessments, where the mesotherapy group continued to show significantly better outcomes. The therapeutic effect of TENS was transient, with scores at one and two months not being significantly different from baseline. Conclusion. Mesotherapy provides a more potent and durable reduction in pain and disability compared to TENS for patients with chronic radicular low back pain. The sustained benefit of mesotherapy suggests it is a more robust therapeutic option for this condition, potentially creating a meaningful therapeutic window that allows patients to more effectively engage in active rehabilitation programs.   herniated disc, radiculopathy, chronic low back pain, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulations, mesotherapy 0 0 http://irj.uswr.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-2615-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 razie maghrori Ramaghroori@yahoo.com Yes Assistant professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran parisa taheri psr_taheri@yahoo.com No Associated professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran fateme hoseinzade fatemehoseinzade98@gmail.com No 2 Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran