Effectiveness of the addition of the interferential current over the Pilates method in the treatment of patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain: a randomized controlled trial

• Grant number: 13/17303-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: December 01, 2013
• End date: November 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Cristina Maria Nunes Cabral
• Grantee: Cristina Maria Nunes Cabral
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria de Pós-Graduação, Pesquisa e Extensão. Universidade Cidade de São Paulo (UNICID). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Richard Eloin Liebano

Abstract

Chronic nonspecific low back pain is a musculoskeletal pain lasting longer than 12 weeks. The supervised exercise therapy is the first-line treatment, and the Pilates method can be used for treatment. Besides supervised exercise therapy, the interferential current (IC) is a widely used electrophysical agent for pain reduction, which leads to the hypothesis that the use of IC before the Pilates method exercises could lead to a marked improvement in pain and disability. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the addition of IC over Pilates method exercises in the treatment of patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 148 patients will be assessed by a blinded assessor at baseline, six weeks and six months after randomization for the following outcomes: pain intensity evaluated by the Pain Numerical Rating Scale, disability evaluated by the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire, specific disability and global perceived effect, evaluated by questionnaires with their respective names, and kinesiophobia evaluated by the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia. Pressure pain threshold will be evaluated with an algometer at baseline and six weeks after randomization. Participants will be randomly allocated into Electrotherapy Group, which will be submitted to the addition of IC over the Pilates exercises, or Pilates Group, which will be submitted to the application of IC placebo and Pilates exercises. The treatment will last for six weeks, three times week. Expected results: It is expected that the addition of IC will produce an analgesic effect which could facilitate the performance of the Pilates method exercises, allowing the Electrotherapy Group to present a significant improvement in the outcomes compared to the Pilates Group. (AU)

Scientific publications

(4)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MOURA FRANCO, KATHERINNE FERRO; DOS SANTOS FRANCO, YURI RAFAEL; BASTOS DE OLIVEIRA, NAIANE TEIXEIRA; PADULA, ROSIMEIRE SIMPRINI; NUNES CABRAL, CRISTINA MARIA. Predictive factors for progression through the difficulty levels of Pilates exercises in patients with low back pain: a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial. BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL THERAPY, v. 22, n. 6, p. 512-518, NOV-DEC 2018. (13/17303-6)

FRANCO, YURI R. S.; FRANCO, KATHERINNE F. M.; SILVA, LETICIA A.; SILVA, MACILENE O.; RODRIGUES, MICHELE N.; LIEBANO, RICHARD E.; CABRAL, CRISTINA M. N.. Does the use of interferential current prior to pilates exercises accelerate improvement of chronic nonspecific low back pain?. PAIN MANAGEMENT, v. 8, n. 6, p. 465-474, NOV 2018. (13/17303-6)

DOS SANTOS FRANCO, YURI RAFAEL; LIEBANO, RICHARD ELOIN; MOURA, KATHERINNE FERRO; BASTOS DE OLIVEIRA, NAIANE TEIXEIRA; MIYAMOTO, GISELA CRISTIANE; SANTOS, MATHEUS OLIVEIRA; NUNES CABRAL, CRISTINA MARIA. Efficacy of the addition of interferential current to Pilates method in patients with low back pain: a protocol of a randomized controlled trial. BMC MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS, v. 15, DEC 10 2014. (13/17303-6)

FRANCO, KATHERINNE MOURA; FRANCO, YURI DOS SANTOS; DE OLIVEIRA, NAIANE BASTOS; MIYAMOTO, GISELA CRISTIANE; SANTOS, MATHEUS OLIVEIRA; LIEBANO, RICHARD ELOIN; CABRAL, CRISTINA NUNES. Is Interferential Current Before Pilates Exercises More Effective Than Placebo in Patients With Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain?: A Randomized Controlled Trial. ARCHIVES OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION, v. 98, n. 2, p. 320-328, FEB 2017. (13/17303-6)