Effectiveness of Dry Needling and Low-Level Laser Therapy in Nonspecific Low Back Pain

Musculoskeletal spinal disorders are an immense problem in industrialised societies resulting in tremendous personal and economic costs. Younger adults (30 to 60-year-old) are more likely to experience Low Back Pain (LBP) from the disc space or from back muscle strain or other soft tissue strain. Experiencing it earlier in life may lead to recurrent and chronic LBP in adulthood. Dry Needling (DN) which are utilised to treat low back torment in current patterns. Low Level Laser Treatment (LLLT) is utilised to treat LBP by concentrating on the trigger focuses. Aim: To identify the effectiveness of DN and LLLT in the management of selected outcome variables among patients with nonspecific LBP. Materials and Methods: The Quasi experimental study was conducted among a total of 30 subjects who met the inclusion criteria. The subjects were divided into 15 each as group A (DN) and group B (LLLT). The Numerical Pain Distress Scale (NPDS), Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale (QBPDS) and lumbar flexion range of motion were assessed, before and after two weeks of intervention program to identify the effectiveness. Data analysis was done through SPSS and graph pad, using paired t-test and independent t-test. Results: Both groups have shown improvement after two weeks of intervention treatment program. Both groups showed significant difference in relieving pain, reducing disability and improving lumbar range of motion on nonspecific LBP individually. However, there was no significant difference found between the groups, thus null hypothesis was accepted and rejecting the alternate hypothesis. Conclusion: Both the techniques are equally effective in reducing the pain, disability level and improving range of motion individually after two weeks of intervention.