PNF With and Without Electrical Stimulation in Patients With Chronic Lumbar Radiculopathy

Effect of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation With and Without Electrical Stimulation on Pain and Functional Disability in Patients With Chronic Lumbar Radiculopathy

Numerous researches have shown how PNF is been used to treat non specific low back pain, subacromial impingement, cervical radiculopathy and many others. In some studies different techniques like Mckenzie method, spinal mobilization and Mulligan traction other than PNF were being used to treat lumbar radiculopathy. According to researchers knowledge little literature available to see the effectiveness of PNF with electrical stimulation in patients with chronic lumbar radiculopathy. Therefore, the purpose of the current study is to examine the effects of PNF with electrical stimulation in patients with chronic lumbar radiculopathy.

Inclusion Criteria:

• • Diagnosed cases of lumbar radiculopathy

  • Either one or both legs affected by radiating pain
  • Signs of nerve root compression like paresthesia, numbness, tingling, sharp pain
  • Impaired deep tendon reflex(knee jerk, ankle jerk)
  • Both male and female
  • Radiological evidence of lumbar spondylosis with radiculopathy
  • Age group between 40 to 70 years
  • Positive SLR test between 45° to 70°
  • All subjects with symptoms for duration of more than 6 weeks
  • Increase leg pain by coughing and sneezing

Exclusion Criteria:

• Serious spinal conditions e.g infection, tumor, osteoporosis
• Uncontrolled hypertension
• Severe cognitive impairment
• Other neurological conditions and systemic illness like kidney and visceral diseases
• Vertebral fracture and spondylolisthesis
• Pregnant women
• History of spinal surgery in previous 6 months
• Clinical conditions such as oversensitive skin, patients with cardiac pacemakers where application of TENS is contraindicated