Microcurrent Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Control Trial
Abstract
For the military healthcare system, chronic musculoskeletal low back pain (LBP) is a particularly salient public health problem in an otherwise young, healthy active duty military population. It has a significant impact on the health of the force and mission readiness since service members (SM) with LBP have higher rates of healthcare utilization, lost work time, and attrition from the combat theater and the military service. For those SMs experiencing chronic LBP, certain medication therapies can adversely affect physical, mental, and social functioning and interfere with functional performance and duty status. Moreover, conservative management with stretching and strengthening exercises and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications have been only somewhat effective in treating the symptoms long-term, and medications can result in untoward side effects. Microcurrent Therapy (MCT), otherwise known as low-frequency Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMF), is a self-care complementary and integrative medicine modality that has demonstrated efficacy in small scale studies in speeding muscle recovery and function in injured athletes, controlling pain, and treating musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 18, 2018
- Source ID
- HU0001161TS10
Entities
People
- Ann Nayback-beebe
Organizations
- Geneva Foundation
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences