Deep heating therapy via MF radiowaves versus superficial heating therapy in the treatment of nonspecific chronic low back pain: A double blind randomized trial

Effects of monopolar pulsed-capacitive dielectric radiofrequency diathermy in patients with chronic low back pain: a randomised clinical trial

Monopolar capacitive diathermy is a physiotherapy technique that uses high-frequency currents to generate heat in deep tissues. This heat can have several therapeutic effects, especially in the treatment of chronic low back pain (CLBP), however, until now there is little evidence of this type of diathermy. The purpose was to evaluate the efficacy of a pulsed monopolar dielectric radiofrequency diathermy (PRF)-capacitive type versus simulated treatment on symptomatology of patients with CLBP. A single-blind randomised controlled trial was conducted. Sixty patients with CLBP were randomly assigned to a PRF-capacitive or a simulated treatment group. All participants received 3 sessions per week for 3 weeks. Disability, pain intensity, movement phobia, lumbar anteflexion, quality of life, and sleep quality were assessed at baseline, after treatment, and at two months. The application of 9 sessions of PRF-capacitive showed significant improvements compared to simulated therapy during the entire follow-up for disability (F = 26.99, p < 0.001), pain intensity (F = 0.550, p < 0.001), the quality of life components of physical function (F = 0.780, p < 0.001), social function (F = 0.780, p < 0.001) and mental health (F = 0.858, p = 0.003) and for sleep duration (F = 0.863, p = 0.004).

The Efficacy of Electromagnetic Diathermy for the Treatment of Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to establish the effect of electromagnetic diathermy therapies (e.g., shortwave, microwave, capacitive resistive electric transfer) on pain, function, and quality of life in treating musculoskeletal disorders.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review according to the PRISMA statement and Cochrane Handbook 6.3. The protocol has been registered in PROSPERO: CRD42021239466. The search was conducted in PubMed, PEDro, CENTRAL, EMBASE, and CINAHL.

RESULTS

We retrieved 13,323 records; 68 studies were included. Many pathologies were treated with diathermy against placebo, as a standalone intervention or alongside other therapies. Most of the pooled studies did not show significant improvements in the primary outcomes. While the analysis of single studies shows several significant results in favour of diathermy, all comparisons considered had a GRADE quality of evidence between low and very low.

CONCLUSIONS

The included studies show controversial results. Most of the pooled studies present very low quality of evidence and no significant results, while single studies have significant results with a slightly higher quality of evidence (low), highlighting a critical lack of evidence in the field. The results did not support the adoption of diathermy in a clinical context, preferring therapies supported by evidence.

A Comparison of the Effect of a 4.4-MHz Radiofrequency Deep Heating Therapy and Ultrasound on Low Back Pain: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Multicenter Trial

Despite the increasing interest in RF (Radiofrequency) therapy, little is known about its effectiveness for low back pain (LBP). The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of 4.4-MHz RF diathermy compared to ultrasound (US) in patients with LBP. One-hundred-and-eighteen patients with LBP were randomized with RF (n = 62) or US (n = 56). Investigator and subjects were blinded to the treatment group. Either RF (4.4 MHz, 45 W/cm2) or US (1 MHz, 2 W/cm2) was applied for 10 to 15 min, 3 times per week for 4 weeks. The primary outcome was the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI, %). Secondary outcomes were numeric rating scale (NRS), Biering−Sorensen test, up-and-go test, successful pain relief, and successful functional improvement. Clinical outcomes were evaluated prior to intervention (baseline), and at 4 and 12 weeks after treatment. There were no significant differences between the groups regarding baseline demographic and clinical characteristics. Both groups observed a significant improvement of ODI (%), NRS, Biering−Sorensen test, and up-and-go test at 4 and 12 weeks after treatment (p < 0.05); however, no significant differences were found between groups. The RF group showed a higher proportion of successful pain relief at 12 weeks after treatment than the US group (p = 0.048). The RF diathermy showed favorable results in pain reduction, improvement of function, mobility, and back muscle endurance. Compared with US, RF diathermy obtained slightly better perception of patients in pain relief at 12 weeks after treatment. The results from this study indicated that 4.4-MHz RF diathermy can effectively be used as a conservative treatment option for patients with LBP.