Effect of Physiotherapy on Pain Intensity and Disability in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Call for Patients’ Awareness to Focus on Physiotherapy Treatment in Cameroon

Abstract

Background: This study aimed at evaluating the effects of conventional physiotherapy (CPT) treatment on pain and disability among patients with Chronic low back pain (CLBP) Methods: we conducted a quasi-experimental study in some major physiotherapy units in Cameroon from December 2022 to April 2023, patients following physiotherapy treatment for CLBP were enrolled. A structured questionnaire was used to collect general characteristics of participants; the level of pain was assessed with the VAS (Visual Analog Scale) and the impairment of physical function with the EIFEL scale (Echelle d’Incapacité Fonctionelle du Patient Lombalgique). The data collected were analyzed using SPSS. The paired Student test was used to compare the initial and final VAS and EIFEL scores. The Leverne test was used to compare treatment outcomes between patients who received CPT alone and those who received non-conventional traditional medicine (TM). Statistical significance was calculated at P˂ 0.05. Results: Were included in this study 158 patients with CLBP with a mean age of 46.3 ±14.3. Female were more represented (106/157, 67%). The patients underwent CPT for a mean duration of 8.9 ±15.8 months at a weekly mean session frequency of 3.8±1. Of the 158 participants, 35 (22.2%) underwent additional TM. Conventional physiotherapy significantly reduced pain (Initial VAS:7.4± 1.3; Final VAS: 3.9± 1; P=0.000) and physical impairment of participants (Initial EIFEL: 15.7± 4.5; Finale EIFEL: 6.8 ± 3.2; P=0.000). The study found no significative difference in pain (P= 0.317) and physical impairment (P=0.302) in patients following exclusively CPT and those following physiotherapy additionally to non-conventional TM. Conclusion: Physiotherapy treatment reduces pain and improve physical function of patients with chronic low back pain and additional non-conventional TM did not have improve further pain and disability in these patients.