Efficacy and safety of treating chronic nonspecific low back pain with radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (rESWT), rESWT combined with celecoxib and eperisone (C+E) or C+E alone: a prospective, randomized trial

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundTo investigate whether respectively radial extracoporeal shock wave therapy (rESWT) or a combination of rESWT, Celecoxib and Eperisone (rESWT+C+E) are superior in reducing pain in subjects with chronic nonspecific low back pain (cnsLBP) compared to C+E alone (a standard treatment of this condition in China).Methods140 subjects with cnsLBP were randomly allocated to rESWT (n=47), rESWT+C+E (n=45) or C+E alone (n=48) for four weeks. Outcome was evaluated using the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ), Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire and Patient Health Questionnaire 9, collected at one week (W1), W2, W3, W4 and W12 after beginning of the therapy.ResultsAll scores showed a statistically significant improvement over time. The PSEQ and NRS scores showed a significant Time × Treatment effect. Subjects treated with rESWT had significantly lower mean NRS values than subjects treated with rESWT+C+E at W1 and W3, as well as than subjects treated with C+E alone at W3 and W4. No severe adverse events were observed.ConclusionrESWT may be superior to respectively rESWT+C+E or C+E alone in reducing pain in subjects with cnsLBP. Level of Evidence: Level I, prospective, randomized, active-controlled trial.