Comparative effects of patient-specific 3-dimensional and 2-dimensional lumbar traction on pain and functional disability in patients with lumbar radiculopathy

Abstract

Abstract Background Low back pain (LBP) resides as a most common type of symptom pointing towards lumber radiculopathy. It is defined as burning sharp leg pain that originates from the back and goes all the way down your legs and extends into the toes and foot. Lumbosacral radiculopathy is caused by pathology of the intervertebral disk or associated structures. Different dimensional traction has been used to treat lumbar radiculopathy. This study aimed to compare the effects of 3-dimensional and 2-dimensional lumbar traction on pain and functional disability in patients with lumbar radiculopathy. The randomized clinical trial study of 4 weeks was carried out at the Lifeline Health Care Imaging and Pain Center and the Hamza Hospital Lahore. Twenty-six subjects were included in the clinical trial and divided into two groups after randomization. Group A received three-dimensional lumbar traction with traction force 50% of total body weight on Spine MT 3D traction machine, and group B received two-dimensional lumbar traction with traction force 50% of total body weight. Pre- and post-values of NPRS and ODI were noted. Results Parametric tests were used during statistical analysis because data was normally distributed. NPRS pre- and posttreatment values showed significant results with p-value < 0.05. ODI pre- and post-values were also obvious with p-value < 0.05. Independent sample T-test was used to assess across the group comparison, suggesting that both groups showed significant improvements of NPRS and ODI post-treatment with p-value (< 0.001). Conclusion The study concluded that 3D traction significantly reduced pain levels and improved functional impairment more effectively than 2D traction in patients with lumbar radiculopathy. Trial registration Trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05356689.