LOCAL AND REMOTE SUSTAINED TRIGGER POINT THERAPY FOR EXACERBATIONS OFCHRONIC LOW-BACK-PAIN - A RANDOMIZED, DOUBLE-BLIND, CONTROLLED, MULTICENTER TRIAL

Study Design. A randomized, double-blind, controlled, multicenter tria l was conducted. Objectives. To assess the efficacy of neuroreflexothe rapy in the management of low back pain. Summary and Background Data. Neuroreflexotherapy consists of temporary implantation of epidermal de vices in trigger points in the back and referred tender points in the ear. Methods. The rheumatology and rehabilitation departments of three teaching hospitals in Madrid recruited 78 patients with chronic low b ack pain. These patients were randomly assigned to the control group ( 37 patients) or to the treatment group (41 patients). Patients in the treatment group underwent one neuroreflexotherapeutic intervention. Th e control group received sham treatment consisting of placement of the same number of epidermal devices within a 5-cm radius of the target z ones. Patients from both groups were allowed to continue drug treatmen t as previously prescribed. The use of medications during the trial wa s recorded. Results. Patients underwent clinical evaluations on three occasions: within 5 minutes before intervention, within 5 minutes afte r intervention, and 45 days later. The preintervention assessment was carried out by the physician from each hospital department who include d the patient in the study. Each of the two follow-up assessments were carried out independently by two of three physicians who had no conne ction with the research team. Patients in the treatment group showed i mmediate lessening of pain compared with the results in patients in th e control group. This pain relief was clinically relevant and statisti cally significant, and it persisted up to the end of the trial. Conclu sions. Neuroreflexotherapy intervention seems to be a simple and effec tive treatment for rapid amelioration of pain episodes in patients wit h chronic low back pain. At this time, the duration of pain relief bey ond 45 days has not been evaluated.