Comparison of the effectiveness of PEMF and TECAR therapy in the treatment of acute low back pain

Background
Low back pain (LBP) is a prevalent musculoskeletal condition. Novel physical therapies such as Transferencia Electri- ca Capacitiva Resistiva (TECAR) and Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) have gained attention for their pain-relieving properties.

Aims
To compare the efficacy of TECAR and PEMF therapies in reducing acute low back pain and functional disability.

Material and methods
Sixty-five patients (mean age 33.6 ± 7.91 years) with acute low back pain were divided into two groups: Group 1 (n = 32) received PEMF treatments, and Group 2 (n = 33) re- ceived TECAR treatments. Pain was assessed using the Visual Ana- logue Scale (VAS), and disability was measured using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI).

Results
Both therapies significantly decreased pain scores (p = 0.0001) and improved ODI scores (p = 0.0001). There were no sig- nificant differences between groups in either outcome. However, a negative correlation was noted between patient age and reduction in pain level (PEMF r = –0.579, p = 0.001; TECAR r = –0.758, p < 0.000), indicating that older patients experienced a somewhat smaller re- duction in pain intensity.

Conclusions
PEMF and TECAR therapies produced comparable benefits in reducing pain and disability in acute low back pain. Age may attenuate the pain-relieving effect of these therapies.