Electrical Therapy Combined with Exercise for Pain in Grade 1 HNP: A Quasi Experimental Study

Mahayu Yoga Pradany; Arini Utami; Mianti Nurrizky Sutejo; Muhammad Dwi Kurniawan

doi:10.24843/

Authors

Mahayu Yoga Pradany Undergraduate Physiotherapy Study Program, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, Universitas Telogorejo, Semarang, Indonesia Author
Arini Utami Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, Universitas Telogorejo, Semarang, Indonesia Author
Mianti Nurrizky Sutejo Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, Universitas Telogorejo, Semarang, Indonesia Author
Muhammad Dwi Kurniawan Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, Universitas Telogorejo, Semarang, Indonesia Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24843/

Keywords:

Herniated Disc, Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation, Exercise Therapy, Pain Measurement

Abstract

Background: Herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP) can cause low back pain and radicular symptoms. The added benefit of exercise combined with electrical therapy remains unclear.
Objective: To determine whether adding hamstring stretching and quadriceps strengthening to electrical therapy reduces pain more than electrical therapy alone in patients with Grade 1 HNP.
Methods: This quasi-experimental pretest-posttest study included 30 participants aged 40–60 years with Grade 1 HNP, assigned to electrical therapy (n = 15) or electrical therapy plus exercise (n = 15). Pain was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale. Within- and between-group changes were analyzed using t tests, with ANCOVA used to adjust posttest scores for baseline pain.
Results: Pain changed from 5.45 ± 0.66 to 5.28 ± 0.65 in the electrical therapy group (p = 0.264) and from 6.17 ± 0.71 to 4.10 ± 0.79 in the combination group (p < 0.001). After adjustment, posttest pain differed significantly between groups (F = 48.547, p < 0.001, partial η² = 0.643), with an adjusted mean difference of 1.656 (95% CI 1.158–2.154; p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Adding hamstring stretching and quadriceps strengthening to electrical therapy was associated with greater pain reduction than electrical therapy alone in patients with Grade 1 HNP. Findings should be interpreted considering the nonrandomized allocation and small sample size.